In the past, a citadel was a strong building in or near a city, where people could shelter for safety.
The citadel at Besançon towered above the river.
Synonyms: fortress, keep, tower, stronghold More Synonyms of citadel
2. countable noun
If you describe a system or organization as a citadelof a particular way of life, usually one you disapprove of, you mean that it is powerful and effective in defending that way of life.
[formal, disapproval]
The business is no longer regarded as a citadel of commerce. [+ of]
citadel in British English
(ˈsɪtədəl, -ˌdɛl)
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 origin
C16: from Old French citadelle, from Old Italian cittadella a little city, from cittade city, from Latin cīvitās
citadel in American English
(ˈsɪtəˌdɛl; ˈsɪtədəl)
noun
1.
a fortress on a commanding height for defense of a city
2.
a fortified place; stronghold
3.
a place of safety; refuge
Word origin
< It cittadella, dim. of cittade, city < L civitas, citizenship: see city
Examples of 'citadel' in a sentence
citadel
Aleppo's citadel and ancient souks are remnants of one of the oldest continually occupied cities on earth.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
(noun)
Definition
a fortress in a city
The citadel at Besançon towered above the river.
Synonyms
fortress
a 13th-century fortress
keep
the parts of the keep open to visitors
tower
troops occupied the first two floors of the tower
stronghold
The seat was a stronghold of the Labour Party.
bastion
The government tends to see itself as a bastion of common sense.
fortification
troops stationed just behind the fortification
fastness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bastion
Definition
a thing or person regarded as defending a principle or way of life
The government tends to see itself as a bastion of common sense.
Synonyms
stronghold,
support,
defence,
rock,
prop,
refuge,
fortress,
mainstay,
citadel,
bulwark,
tower of strength,
fastness
in the sense of fortification
troops stationed just behind the fortification
Synonyms
defence,
keep,
protection,
castle,
fort,
fortress,
stronghold,
bastion,
citadel,
bulwark,
fastness,
fortified pa (New Zealand)
in the sense of keep
Definition
the main tower within the walls of a medieval castle or fortress