Kremlin

UK: /ˈkrɛmlɪn/ US: /ˈkrɛmlɪn/ ,(krem′lin)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

Krem•lin /ˈkrɛmlɪn/   n. [proper noun* the + ~]

1. Government
   • Government the government of the former Soviet Union or, now, of Russia.
2. Government the citadel of Moscow, containing within its walls some of the offices of the former Soviet government and, now, the Russian government.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

Krem•lin  (krem′lin), n. 

1. Government the Kremlin:
   • the executive branch of the government of Russia or of the Soviet Union, esp. in regard to its foreign affairs.
   • the citadel of Moscow, including within its walls the chief offices of the Russian and, formerly, of the Soviet government.

• an unattestested outcome of Old Russian *kremlĭnĭ, derivative of kremlĭ (Russian kreml’, gen kremlyá) citadel, akin to Old Russian Kromù the citadel of Pskov, Ukrainian króma partition, Russian kromá, krómka edge, border
• German (now obsolete)
• earlier Kremelien 1655–65

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Kremlin / ˈkrɛmlɪn/ noun

1. the 12th-century citadel in Moscow, containing the former Imperial Palace, three Cathedrals, and the offices of the Russian government
2. (formerly) the central government of the Soviet Union

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

kremlin / ˈkrɛmlɪn/ noun

1. the citadel of any Russian city

Etymology: 17th Century: from obsolete German Kremelin, from Russian kreml