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

Now, Walk Japan offers behind-the-scenes access into the bygone world of Japan’s feudal past, from ancient Japanese pathways to visiting the battlefields, citadels, and castles. —Michelle Gross, Robb Report, 5 Sep. 2024

One by one continue to fall the last possible citadels of defense against uncontradicted Nazi dictatorship. —Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2011

Two of the biggest items on her list are hiking to Machu Picchu, the Inca citadel in Peru, and watching swimming at the Olympic Games. —Michael Cody Stephenson, The Arizona Republic, 9 Aug. 2024

Perhaps most significantly, doubt was creeping into the citadel of religion. —Michael Luo, The New Yorker, 29 July 2024

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