polis

[poh-lis]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR polis ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural po·leis [poh-lahys] /ˈpoʊ laɪs/.

an ancient Greek city-state.

Nearby words

Origin of polis

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

-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 pólis polis

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for polis

His father coined the word “poliatrist”, meaning a healer of the polis or city.
Hector Abad On “Oblivion: A Memoir,” a Memorial to His Murdered Father|Maya Jaggi|April 27, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Frank is retiring, Baldwin is running for the Senate, and Polis and Ciciline are up for reelection.
Gay Politicians Come Out In Force for 2012 Races|Allison Yarrow|April 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The polis hae been searchin' noo for a fortnight an' nae trace o' her can be got.
The Underworld|James C. Welsh
Polis had evidently more curiosity respecting the few settlers in those woods than we.
The Maine Woods|Henry David Thoreau

Between times th' polis give him his own side iv th' sthreet, an' on'y took him whin his back was tur-rned.
Mr. Dooley in Peace and in War|Finley Peter Dunne
Ye're lippenin' to the polis, but in a' my days I never kenned the polis in time.
Huntingtower|John Buchan
And her place in the Polis was dependent on the basileus, Michael.
The Saracen: Land of the Infidel|Robert Shea

British Dictionary definitions for polis

polis

noun plural poleis (ˈpɒlaɪs)

an ancient Greek city-state

Word Origin for polis

from Greek: city

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

Word Origin and History for polis

polis

"ancient Greek city-state," 1894, from Greek polis "city, one's city; the state, citizens," from PIE *pele- "citadel, enclosed space, often on high ground" (cf. Sanskrit pur, puram "city, citadel," Lithuanian pilis "fortress").

-polis

word-forming element meaning "City," from Greek polis "city" (see polis).

polis

noun, plural po·leis [poh-lahys] /ˈpoʊ laɪs/.

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Nearby words

Origin of polis

-polis

Origin of -polis

Examples from the Web for polis

polis

noun plural poleis (ˈpɒlaɪs)

Word Origin for polis

noun

Word Origin for polis

polis

-polis