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

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

Overlooking the town and the main beach is Riva Castle, a 1,500-year-old Byzantine citadel. —Joe Yogerst, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024

An archeological site, which now sprawls across the citadel grounds, reveals a wealth of relics from the former seat of power. —Chris Humphrey, New York Times, 17 Oct. 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