city-state

American  

[sit-ee-steyt] / ˈsɪt iˌsteɪt /

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.

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city-state British  

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

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Etymology

Origin of city-state

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

But the city-state is fighting back, including through tough laws that can compel tech giants to clamp down on fraud -- with scam cases and losses down last year for the first time since 2021.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

The island city-state of Singapore imports 90% of its food, while all of Indonesia's wheat, for example, comes from outside the country.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

The city-state could revisit its forecasts for growth and inflation if necessary.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

Consumer inflation in the city-state eased sharply last year, while economic growth beat expectations.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026

In about 1450 the Inka army, led by Qhapaq Yupanki, Pachakuti’s brother, besieged the city-state of Cajamarca, in the foothills east of Chimor.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann