noun
Kremlin
KREHM-lihn
noun
1
A fortified citadel or central stronghold found at the heart of many old Russian cities.
"The city's kremlin dates back to the fourteenth century."
"Tourists climbed the walls of the old kremlin overlooking the river."
2
(capitalized, often "the Kremlin") The Russian or Soviet government, referring to the seat of power in Moscow.
"The Kremlin issued a statement denying the report."
"Analysts tried to predict how the Kremlin would respond to the sanctions."
How to Use Kremlin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the walled fortress-complex at the centre of a Russian city, or (capitalized) the Russian government itself.
Common mistake
Lowercase "kremlin" is the generic fortress; capitalized "the Kremlin" almost always means the government in Moscow, not the building.
Common pairings
the Moscow Kremlin
the Kremlin said
inside the Kremlin walls
Word Forms
kremlins plural
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The city's _____ dates back to the fourteenth century.
Etymology
From Russian кремль (kremlʹ), originally meaning a fortress inside a city; the Moscow Kremlin became so famous that the word now doubles as shorthand for the Russian government itself.