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polis

[ poh-lis ]
/ ˈpoʊ lɪs /
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noun, plural po·leis [poh-lahys]. /ˈpoʊ laɪs/.
an ancient Greek city-state.
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Origin of polis

1890–95; <Greek pólis, plural (Ionic) póleis

Other definitions for polis (2 of 2)

-polis

a combining form, meaning “city,” appearing in loanwords from Greek (metropolis), and used in the formation of placenames (Annapolis).

Origin of -polis

Combining form representing Greek pólispolis
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use polis in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for polis (1 of 2)

polis1
/ (ˈpɒlɪs) /

noun plural poleis (ˈpɒlaɪs)
an ancient Greek city-state

Word Origin for polis

from Greek: city

British Dictionary definitions for polis (2 of 2)

polis2
/ (ˈpolɪs) /

noun
Scot and Irish the police or a police officer

Word Origin for polis

C19: a variant pronunciation of police
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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