city

[ sit-ee ]

/ ˈsɪt i /

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,

the major metropolitan center of a region; downtown: I'm going to the City to buy clothes and see a show.
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.

VIDEO FOR CITY

WATCH NOW: What Are Some US City Names That We Are All Pronouncing Wrong?

Even if you have lived in the US your whole life there are still cities that you probably pronounce wrong. So, what is the right way to say them? Watch on!

Origin of city

1175–1225; Middle English cite < Anglo-French, Old French cite(t) < Latin cīvitāt- (stem of cīvitās) citizenry, town, equivalent to cīvi(s) citizen + -tāt- -ty²

synonym study for city

1. See community.

OTHER WORDS FROM city

cit·y·less, adjective cit·y·like, adjective in·ter·cit·y, adjective min·i·cit·y, noun, plural min·i·cit·ies.

out·cit·y, noun, plural out·cit·ies. pro·cit·y, adjective sub·cit·y, noun, plural sub·cit·ies.

Words nearby city

citrus whitefly, citrussy, citta, cittern, città del vaticano, city, city academy, city and guilds of london institute, city blues, city chambers, city clerk

Example sentences from the Web for city

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

Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers |Michael Schulson |July 27, 2016 |DAILY BEAST
To put it rather uncharitably, the USPHS practiced a major dental experiment on a city full of unconsenting subjects.

Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers |Michael Schulson |July 27, 2016 |DAILY BEAST
Today, the city is an Asian hipster outpost, with shopping malls, clothing boutiques, and mixologist-prepared cocktails.

Cambodia’s Smoke-and-Mirrors Democracy |David Shaftel |January 9, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
“I love my job and I love my city and I am committed to the work here,” he said in a statement.

The Golden State Preps for the ‘Red Wedding’ of Senate Races |David Freedlander |January 9, 2015 |DAILY BEAST

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

New York’s Most Tragic Ghost Loves Minimalist Swedish Fashion |Nina Strochlic |January 8, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Even the city of Philadelphia is not exempt from this moral pestilence.

American Slave Trade |Jesse Torrey
Really comfortable, in a human way, not in the sham way of the City.

Ripeness is All |Jesse Roarke
Find a nice place not too far from the city—say on Long Island—and I can run out whenever necessary.

The Nest Builder |Beatrice Forbes-Robertson Hale
I was no longer beneath the surface of the earth but was somewhere in the massive concrete structure of the City of Berlin.

City of Endless Night |Milo Hastings
The water runs down to the home station, and is then lifted up high by steam engines and distributed over the city.

Wisconsin in Story and Song; |Various

British Dictionary definitions for city (1 of 2)

city

/ (ˈsɪtɪ) /

noun plural cities

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 a city girl; city habits

Other words from city

Related adjectives: civic, urban, municipal

Word Origin for city

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

British Dictionary definitions for city (2 of 2)

City

/ (ˈsɪtɪ) /

noun the City

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

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

city

noun, plural cit·ies.

VIDEO FOR CITY

WATCH NOW: What Are Some US City Names That We Are All Pronouncing Wrong?

Origin of city

synonym study for city

OTHER WORDS FROM city

Words nearby city

Example sentences from the Web for city

British Dictionary definitions for city (1 of 2)

noun plural cities

Other words from city

Word Origin for city

British Dictionary definitions for city (2 of 2)

noun the City

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

city

noun, plural cit·ies.

VIDEO FOR CITY

WATCH NOW: What Are Some US City Names That We Are All Pronouncing Wrong?

Origin of city

synonym study for city

OTHER WORDS FROM city

Words nearby city

Content related to city

Words related to city

Example sentences from the Web for city

British Dictionary definitions for city (1 of 2)

noun plural cities

Other words from city

Word Origin for city

British Dictionary definitions for city (2 of 2)

noun the City