city

[ sit-ee ]

noun

, plural cit·ies.

1. a large or important town.
2. (in the U.S.) an incorporated municipality, usually governed by a mayor and a board of aldermen or councilmen.
3. the inhabitants of a city collectively:

   The entire city is mourning his death.

4. (in Canada) a municipality of high rank, usually based on population.
5. (in Great Britain) a borough, usually the seat of a bishop, upon which the dignity of the title has been conferred by the crown.
6. 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.
7. a city-state.
8. (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

¹

/ ˈsɪtɪ /

noun

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

   a city girl

   city habits

City

²

/ ˈsɪtɪ /

noun

1. 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)
2. the area in central London in which the United Kingdom's major financial business is transacted
3. the various financial institutions located in this area

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of city¹

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

Synonym Study

See community.

Related Words

• capital
• center
• downtown
• metropolis
• municipality
• place
• port