citadel

noun

cit·​a·​del ˈsi-tə-dᵊl 

-ˌdel

1

: a fortress that commands (see command entry 1 sense 2c) a city

2

: stronghold

the nation's citadel of health research

—Constance Holden

a citadel of higher education

Synonyms

• bastion
• castle
• fastness
• fort
• fortification
• fortress
• hold
• redoubt
• stronghold

Examples of citadel in a Sentence

We visited a medieval citadel in Italy.

a massive stone citadel continues to command the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia

Recent Examples on the Web

One clip purported to show HTS troops waving the flag of the Free Syrian Army above the citadel of Aleppo, proclaiming victory. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2024

Later, Christian crusaders built citadels along the coast that went on to be repurposed by Muslim Ottoman rulers. —Daniele Hamamdjian, NBC News, 17 Nov. 2024

But perhaps their most resilient architectural achievement was the building of Machu Picchu, a citadel that sits about 8,000 feet in elevation in the Andes of southern Peru. —Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024

On the other side, Portuguese cannons poke out from the citadel walls, and surf slams into the rocks below. —Saki Knafo, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Jan. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle French citadelle, from Old Italian cittadella, diminutive of cittade city, from Medieval Latin civitat-, civitas — more at city

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

citadel

noun

cit·​a·​del ˈsit-əd-ᵊl 

-ə-ˌdel

1

: a fortress that sits high above a city

2

: a strong fortress