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Philadelphia

American  
[fil-uh-del-fee-uh] / ˌfɪl əˈdɛl fi ə /

noun

  1. a city in SE Pennsylvania, on the Delaware River: Declaration of Independence signed here July 4, 1776.


Philadelphia British  
/ ˌfɪləˈdɛlfɪə /

noun

  1. a city and port in SE Pennsylvania, at the confluence of the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers: the fourth largest city in the US; founded by Quakers in 1682; cultural and financial centre of the American colonies and the federal capital (1790–1800); scene of the Continental Congresses (1774–83) and the signing of the Declaration of Independence (1776). Pop: 1 479 339 (2003 est)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Philadelphia Cultural  
  1. Largest city in Pennsylvania.


Discover More

Philadelphia, the “City of Brotherly Love,” was founded in the late seventeenth century as a Quaker colony by William Penn.

Cultural center now and especially in colonial times. Its historical monuments include Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed; the Liberty Bell; and Congress Hall.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The V-shaped trading pattern of the last 24 hrs reflects in part the behavior of the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index SOX, the broad movements of which Korea’s market has been tracking for some time.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

The band added that “after careful consideration,” it had decided to postpone its Philadelphia show that night.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

In particular, the “Encore” section of her show reveals a hand-picked spin from her partner’s Latchkey Records store in Philadelphia.

From Salon • Jun. 6, 2026

Ms. Klein, a cultural reporter and critic in Philadelphia, has been a three-time finalist for the National Book Critics Circle’s Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026

After four years in Philadelphia learning his trade, Isaac was an accomplished tinsmith.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

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