View synonyms for city

city

[ sit-ee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, plural cit·ies.

a large or important town.
(in the U.S.) an incorporated municipality, usually governed by a mayor and a board of aldermen or councilmen.
the inhabitants of a city collectively:
The entire city is mourning his death.
(in Canada) a municipality of high rank, usually based on population.
(in Great Britain) a borough, usually the seat of a bishop, upon which the dignity of the title has been conferred by the crown.
the City,
1. the major metropolitan center of a region; downtown:
  I'm going to the City to buy clothes and see a show.
2. the commercial and financial area of London, England.
a city-state.
(often initial capital letter) Slang. a place, person, or situation having certain features or characteristics (used in combination):
The party last night was Action City. That guy is dull city.

city

/ ˈsɪtɪ /

noun

any large town or populous place
(in Britain) a large town that has received this title from the Crown: usually the seat of a bishop
(in the US) an incorporated urban centre with its own government and administration established by state charter
(in Canada) a similar urban municipality incorporated by the provincial government
an ancient Greek city-state; polis
the people of a city collectively
modifier in or characteristic of a city
city habits
a city girl

City

/ ˈsɪtɪ /

noun

short for City of London : the original settlement of London on the N bank of the Thames; a municipality governed by the Lord Mayor and Corporation. Resident pop: 7186 (2001)
the area in central London in which the United Kingdom's major financial business is transacted
the various financial institutions located in this area

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Other Words From

city·less adjective
city·like adjective
inter·city adjective
mini·city noun plural minicities
outcity noun plural outcities
pro·city adjective
sub·city noun plural subcities

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Word History and Origins

Origin of city¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English cite, from Anglo-French, Old French cite(t), from Latin cīvitāt-, stem of cīvitās “citizenry, town,” from cīvi(s) “citizen” ( civil ( def ) ) + -tās -ty ²

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Word History and Origins

Origin of city¹

C13: from Old French cité, from Latin cīvitās citizenship, state, from cīvis citizen

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Synonym Study

See community.

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Example Sentences

The people leaving New York are disproportionately older, richer, more established professionals — people who need the city less.

From Axios

The video fueled a rumor that the Illinois National Guard was being sent to the city to put it on “lockdown.”

From ProPublica

Dueñas said authorities threatened him when he publicly questioned police mistreatment of LGBTQ people in Cárdenas, a city adjacent to Matanzas.

From Washington Blade

In Delaware, Beebe Healthcare, a hospital in the city of Lewes that serves the Rehoboth Beach area, was one of five Delaware hospitals to receive a score of 100 in the 2020 Healthcare Equality Index report.

From Washington Blade

They took over a big chunk of the city, 20 percent of the city.

From Washington Post

Throughout the fifties, in city after city, fluoridation became the subject of fierce debate.

From The Daily Beast

To put it rather uncharitably, the USPHS practiced a major dental experiment on a city full of unconsenting subjects.

From The Daily Beast

Today, the city is an Asian hipster outpost, with shopping malls, clothing boutiques, and mixologist-prepared cocktails.

From The Daily Beast

“I love my job and I love my city and I am committed to the work here,” he said in a statement.

From The Daily Beast

Saved from the public gallows, Weeks was virtually exiled from the city, and wound up in Mississippi, where he raised a family.

From The Daily Beast

This city stands upon almost two equal parts on each side the river that passes through.

From Project Gutenberg

When she arrived she made a regular entry into the city in a coach all gold and glass, drawn by eight superb plumed horses.

From Project Gutenberg

You see, I am the city undertaker, and the people are dying here so fast, that I can hardly supply the demand for coffins.

From Project Gutenberg

Cheap as they are, they are a poorer speculation than even corner lots in a lithographic city of Nebraska or Oregon.

From Project Gutenberg

The streets here are rather wide for an Italian city but would be deemed intolerably narrow in America.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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More About City

What is a basic definition of city?

A city is a place where a large number of people live. The word city is also used to refer to all of the people who live in this kind of place or to something that is related to such a place. The word city has more specific meanings, depending on the country.

The plural of city is cities. Generally speaking, a city is a place where a large number of people are gathered together to live and/or work. Cities are typically much larger than places referred to as towns and are known for having homes and apartments placed more closely together than in other places. Different countries have specific definitions of what actually qualifies as a city, but the word is often used generally to describe a place where many people live.

Real-life examples: New York City, Tokyo, Paris, London, Moscow, Beijing, Madrid, and Berlin are examples of major cities around the world.

Used in a sentence: I grew up in the city of Philadelphia.

Playing off of this, the word city is also used to collectively refer to all of the people who live in a city.

Real-life examples: A mayor will often give speeches to the city, meaning the people who live there. A parade or festival will also be organized by a city, meaning the city’s government or the citizens of a city.

Used in a sentence: The city celebrated New Year’s Eve with a big parade.

The word city is also used to describe something that is related to or has the quality of a city.

Real-life examples: A city library is a library located in and run by a city. A city bus is a bus owned and operated by a city. A city person is someone who grew up in a city or prefers the life of a city.

Used in a sentence: My dad really hates city traffic.

Where does city come from?

The first records of city come from around 1175. It ultimately comes from the Latin cīvitās, meaning “citizenship” or “state,” from the word cīvis meaning “citizen.”

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What are some other forms related to city?

cityless (adjective)
citylike (adjective)
intercity (adjective)
inner city (noun)

What are some synonyms for city?

What are some words that share a root or word element with city?

What are some words that often get used in discussing city?

How is city used in real life?

City is a common word most frequently referring to a place where a lot of people live.

my single best quality is that i was born and raised in the city of chicago

— thanks for coming (@postingcontent) November 15, 2020

In 1896, fearful that land speculation would drive up housing prices, the city of Amsterdam bought up land. Today, 80% is owned by the city.

— Jennifer Keesmaat (@jen_keesmaat) December 18, 2016

I‘m so grateful for all the beautiful cities I’ve gotten to travel to. And all the beautiful cities I have yet to visit.
But no city lights my heart up like New York City does. #home

— conor leslie (@ConorLeslie) December 18, 2019

Try using city!

True or False?

A city is larger and has more people living in it than a town or village.

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