Saint Petersburg

British  

/ ˈpiːtəzˌbɜːɡ /

noun

1. Former names: Petrograd.   Leningrad.  a city and port in Russia, on the Gulf of Finland at the mouth of the Neva River: founded by Peter the Great in 1703 and built on low-lying marshes subject to frequent flooding; capital of Russia from 1712 to 1918; a cultural and educational centre, with a university (1819); a major industrial centre, with engineering, shipbuilding, chemical, textile, and printing industries. Pop: 5 315 000 (2005 est)

2. a city and resort in W Florida, on Tampa Bay. Pop: 247 610 (2003 est)

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Saint Petersburg Cultural  

1. City in northwestern Russia, situated at the head of the Gulf of Finland on both banks of the Neva River and on the islands of its delta; the second-largest city in Russia; a major port, and one of the world's leading industrial and cultural centers.

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Discover More

Because it is so far north, St. Petersburg experiences “white nights” for three weeks in June when the sky never completely darkens.

It is the location of the historic Winter Palace, which was sacked during the Russian Revolution but later became the Hermitage Museum.

The first Russian city modeled after European cities, it was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, who wanted to make it his “window to the West”; renamed Petrograd at the start of World War I and then Leningrad in 1924 in honor of Lenin.

With the collapse of communism, the city was renamed St. Petersburg.

Example Sentences

Instead, Victor's first day was in an abandoned house three hours outside Saint-Petersburg.

From Barron's • Feb. 9, 2026

He also says he knows of at least two more hospitals in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg where contractors are treated.

From Reuters • Nov. 3, 2016

“It is an unbelievable moment staying up,” said Adocaat, who has won titles with PSV Eindhoven, Zenit Saint-Petersburg and Glasgow club, Rangers.

From Washington Times • May 20, 2015

RUSSIA: Big EchoDasha Shults - KiteDasha Shults, a 16-year-old wonder from Saint-Petersburg, has taken her first steps from covering her favorites by Ellie Goulding and Laura Marling to making her own simple, beautiful songs.

From The Guardian • Feb. 15, 2013

He-aw-had been going eastward somewhere to-aw-Constantinople, or Saint-Petersburg, or-aw-somewhere, when he-aw-heard that it might be amusing at Saarbrück.

From Lorraine A romance by Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William)