Word of the day: Citadel

Citadel

[SID-ə-del]

Part of speech: noun

Origin: French, mid-16th century

A fortress, typically on high ground, protecting or dominating a city.

Examples of citadel in a sentence

"The soldiers prepared to fall back to the citadel before dark."

"The king ordered the construction of a moat to further secure the citadel."

About Citadel

Citadel, the French word "citadelle," and the Italian word "cittadella" are all derived from the Latin word "civitas" ("city").

Did you Know?

The Acropolis of Athens (Greece), the Rock of Gibraltar (located in/near Spain), and Dover Castle (England) are citadels, fortresses built in strategic defensive locations to protect a city. The citadels were used by different cultures, depending on who was currently in power.