city

noun

ˈsi-tē 

plural cities

often attributive

1

a

: an inhabited place of greater size, population, or importance than a town or village

We spent the weekend in the city.

b

: an incorporated British town usually of major size or importance having the status of an episcopal see

c capitalized

(1)

: the financial district of London

(2)

: the influential financial interests of the British economy

d

: a usually large or important municipality in the U.S. governed under a charter granted by the state

e

: an incorporated municipal unit of the highest class in Canada

2

: city-state

3

: the people of a city

The city rebelled against the oppressive government.

4

slang : a thing, event, or situation that is strongly characterized by a specified quintessential feature or quality

The movie was shoot-out city.

Getting lost in the maze was panic city.

Synonyms

• asphalt jungle
• burg
• cosmopolis
• megacity
• megalopolis
• metropolis
• municipality
• town

Examples of city in a Sentence

major cities like London, Tokyo, and Rome

The city is working to make the streets safer.

a lawsuit against the city

Recent Examples on the Web

Suited for low-impact hikes, city walking tours, or leisurely outdoor activities, these active sandals are an impressive 50 percent off for a limited time. —Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 14 Feb. 2025

Miami parks to get $10M in city funds February 13, 2025 7:07 PM Miami-Dade County Miami mayor pushes to redirect millions in citywide park funding to Inter Miami site February 12, 2025 12:13 PM See all stories Miami Herald Tess Riski covers Miami City Hall. —Tess Riski, Miami Herald, 14 Feb. 2025

The northern lights are easiest to spot in clear weather and in places where the skies are darker—away from sources of light pollution like cities. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025

The film centers around a family of mice who are busy with holiday preparations in their cozy countryside home — until a human city family arrives, looking for a peaceful escape from their daily life. —Leo Barraclough, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English citie large or small town, from Anglo-French cité, from Medieval Latin civitat-, civitas, from Latin, citizenship, state, city of Rome, from civis citizen — more at hind

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing city

• anti-city
• big-city
• central city
• city centre
• city clerk
• city council
• city desk
• city editor
• city father
• city hall
• city manager
• city planning
• city room
• city slicker
• city-state
• core city
• edge city
• fat city
• free city
• garden city
• holy city
• independent city
• inner city
• inter-city
• open city
• sister city
• tent city
• the big city
• the city

Kids Definition

city

noun

ˈsit-ē 

plural cities

1

: a place in which people live that is larger or more important than a town

2

: the people of a city

Etymology

Middle English citie "large or small town," from early French cité (same meaning), derived from Latin civitas "state of being a resident of a town, citizenship," from civis "citizen" — related to citizen, civil