Leningrad

Part of speech: noun, proper noun

Definitions

1. A historical city located on the Neva River in Russia, known for its significant cultural heritage and as the former capital of the Russian Empire
2. A major port city in Northwestern Russia, famous for its rich history, including its role during World War II and its iconic architecture
3. Formerly known as St. Petersburg, this urban center is recognized for its contributions to art, literature, and as a pivotal site in Russian history

Etymology: The city's name was a deliberate political act. In January 1924, days after Vladimir Lenin died, the former imperial capital of Saint Petersburg was renamed Leningrad in his honour. The name joins two Russian elements: "Lenin," the surname of the revolutionary leader, and "grad," meaning "city," a word that appears in many Slavic place names, such as Volgograd and Stalingrad. The English word is borrowed directly from the Russian form. The name was not permanent. After the Soviet Union collapsed, the city reverted in 1991 to Saint Petersburg, the name it had carried before 1914 under its original Russian form. The word Leningrad therefore names a period rather than a place people still call by it, which is why it is most often encountered in historical writing, the Siege of Leningrad of 1941 to 1944 being the best-known example.

Synonyms: Saint Petersburg, Petrograd, Sankt-Peterburg