city

[ sit-ee ]

noun

, plural cit·ies.

1. a large or important town.
2. (in the U.S.) an incorporated municipality, usually governed by a mayor and a board of aldermen or councilmen.
3. the inhabitants of a city collectively:

   The entire city is mourning his death.

4. (in Canada) a municipality of high rank, usually based on population.
5. (in Great Britain) a borough, usually the seat of a bishop, upon which the dignity of the title has been conferred by the crown.
6. the City,
   1. the major metropolitan center of a region; downtown:

      I'm going to the City to buy clothes and see a show.

   2. the commercial and financial area of London, England.
7. a city-state.
8. (often initial capital letter) Slang. a place, person, or situation having certain features or characteristics (used in combination):

   The party last night was Action City. That guy is dull city.

city

¹

/ ˈsɪtɪ /

noun

1. any large town or populous place
2. (in Britain) a large town that has received this title from the Crown: usually the seat of a bishop
3. (in the US) an incorporated urban centre with its own government and administration established by state charter
4. (in Canada) a similar urban municipality incorporated by the provincial government
5. an ancient Greek city-state; polis
6. the people of a city collectively
7. modifier in or characteristic of a city

   city habits

   a city girl

City

²

/ ˈsɪtɪ /

noun

1. short for City of London : the original settlement of London on the N bank of the Thames; a municipality governed by the Lord Mayor and Corporation. Resident pop: 7186 (2001)
2. the area in central London in which the United Kingdom's major financial business is transacted
3. the various financial institutions located in this area

Other Words From

• city·less adjective
• city·like adjective
• inter·city adjective
• mini·city noun plural minicities
• outcity noun plural outcities
• pro·city adjective
• sub·city noun plural subcities

Word History and Origins

Origin of city¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English cite, from Anglo-French, Old French cite(t), from Latin cīvitāt-, stem of cīvitās “citizenry, town,” from cīvi(s) “citizen” ( civil ( def ) ) + -tās -ty ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of city¹

C13: from Old French cité, from Latin cīvitās citizenship, state, from cīvis citizen

Synonym Study

See community.

Example Sentences

Throughout the fifties, in city after city, fluoridation became the subject of fierce debate.

From The Daily Beast

To put it rather uncharitably, the USPHS practiced a major dental experiment on a city full of unconsenting subjects.

From The Daily Beast

Today, the city is an Asian hipster outpost, with shopping malls, clothing boutiques, and mixologist-prepared cocktails.

From The Daily Beast

“I love my job and I love my city and I am committed to the work here,” he said in a statement.

From The Daily Beast

Saved from the public gallows, Weeks was virtually exiled from the city, and wound up in Mississippi, where he raised a family.

From The Daily Beast

This city stands upon almost two equal parts on each side the river that passes through.

From Project Gutenberg

When she arrived she made a regular entry into the city in a coach all gold and glass, drawn by eight superb plumed horses.

From Project Gutenberg

You see, I am the city undertaker, and the people are dying here so fast, that I can hardly supply the demand for coffins.

From Project Gutenberg

Cheap as they are, they are a poorer speculation than even corner lots in a lithographic city of Nebraska or Oregon.

From Project Gutenberg

The streets here are rather wide for an Italian city but would be deemed intolerably narrow in America.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• capital
• center
• downtown
• metropolis
• municipality
• place
• port