city-state

[ sit-ee-steyt ]

noun

1. a sovereign state consisting of an autonomous city and, especially historically, any dependent settlements or territories:

   The Corinthian order of architecture is named for its legendary origin in the ancient Greek city-state of Corinth.

   Singapore’s role in shaping global entrepreneurship has further strengthened that city-state's position in the world economy.

city-state

noun

1. a state consisting of a sovereign city and its dependencies. Among the most famous are the great independent cities of the ancient world, such as Athens, Sparta, Carthage, Thebes, Corinth, and Rome

Word History and Origins

Origin of city-state¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Earlier this month the Vatican announced the installation of free showers for the homeless in public bathrooms in the city-state.

From The Daily Beast

Neighboring city-state Athens was more haphazard about its infanticide.

From The Daily Beast

For Zahir (not his real name), the wealthy city-state of Singapore was meant to be his chance to make it rich.

From The Daily Beast

The city-state of Tel Aviv will sleep-party through the end of the two-state solution.

From The Daily Beast

Yale should learn from the city-state, he and others have argued, not condemn it.

From The Daily Beast

Local cults rose into prominence as a city-state or ruling family achieved political ascendancy.

From Project Gutenberg

Perhaps the noblest society of antiquity was the Greek city state.

From Project Gutenberg

Xenophon had always dreamt of forming on the border of Hellenedom a new city state, which should honor him as its founder.

From Project Gutenberg

To a Greek it suggested the assembly of freeborn citizens in a city state.

From Project Gutenberg

From family to tribe to city-state to nation to hemisphere, the direction has been toward unification.

From Project Gutenberg