citadel

[ sit-uh-dl, -uh-del ]

noun

1. a fortress that commands a city and is used in the control of the inhabitants and in defense during attack or siege.
2. any strongly fortified place; stronghold.
3. (formerly) a heavily armored structure on a warship, for protecting the engines, magazines, etc.

citadel

/ -ˌdɛl; ˈsɪtədəl /

noun

1. a stronghold within or close to a city
2. any strongly fortified building or place of safety; refuge
3. a specially strengthened part of the hull of a warship
4. often capital the headquarters of the Salvation Army

Word History and Origins

Origin of citadel¹

1580–90; < Middle French citadelle < Old Italian cittadella, equivalent to cittad ( e ) city + -ella -elle

Word History and Origins

Origin of citadel¹

C16: from Old French citadelle, from Old Italian cittadella a little city, from cittade city, from Latin cīvitās

Example Sentences

For years, he threw himself long and hard against Carson’s legendary citadel of privacy and in 2002 got the first interview after Carson’s earthshaking retirement.

From Los Angeles Times

And discovered his house was built on a medieval citadel.

From BBC

The club, which The Times described in 1967 as “a citadel of white Christianity,” was considered the pre-eminent training ground for college graduates aspiring to make the U.S.

From New York Times

During a lull in heavy rain late Friday, a torchbearer lit a cauldron in front of the 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple, on the citadel that dominates the Athens skyline and is Greece’s top tourist draw.

From Seattle Times

The current wave of policies, though, is a stark contrast to the classic open markets, hands-off government ideology championed by the citadels of capitalism in recent decades.

From New York Times

Related Words

• bastion
• fortification
• fortress