Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Language: French
Origin: citadelle, from Old Italian cittadella, from cittade 'city', from Latin civitas; CITY

citadel

 noun
     
cit‧a‧del [countable]
1PM a strong fort (=small castle) built in the past as a place where people could go for safety if their city was attacked [= fortress]
2

the citadel of something

literary a place or situation in which an idea, principle, system etc that you think is important is kept safe [= stronghold]:
the last citadel of freedom
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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