city

noun, often attributive

\ ˈsi-tē

plural cities

Definition of city

1a : 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 More Example Sentences Learn More about city

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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

Sad news from London that one of the city’s most pioneering menswear designers—and much more else besides—has passed away at the age of 62. — Luke Leitch, Vogue, "Joe Casely-Hayford, the British Fashion Designer, Dies at 62," 3 Jan. 2019 But then came the mandarin duck, a rare species that likely escaped from a home zoo and made its way to Central Park, capturing hearts and minds—first of the city, then the nation. — The Editors, Marie Claire, "Marie Claire Editors Tell You Their Favorite Things You Probably Missed in 2018," 31 Dec. 2018 Located in Armonk, New York, about 50 minutes north of the city, this four-bedroom, two-bath midcentury was built in 1957 by architect Arthur Witthoefft of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. — Megan Barber, Curbed, "The 11 best midcentury modern homes of 2018," 26 Dec. 2018 The need to build so many more towers for 5G probably isn't worth the cost outside of a city, so LTE will have to do. — Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, "Don’t buy a 5G smartphone—at least, not for a while," 14 Dec. 2018 Although the largest parades took place in Moscow, other Soviet cities held them as well. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "How the CIA Watched Soviet Parades for New Military Tech," 19 Dec. 2018 Micromobility devices, like scooters, are rapidly entering cities. — Diana Budds, Curbed, "The future of urban mobility will be shaped by these six issues," 18 Dec. 2018 Peep Jaz's Instagram and see her on beaches/cities/jungles galore. — Alison Caporimo, Seventeen, "8 Fun Facts About "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" Star Jaz Sinclair," 12 Dec. 2018 Columbus, Indiana, which has been ranked as one of the top cities in the U.S. for architecture by the American Institute of Architects, is adorned with numerous notable buildings by modernist icons. — Allie Weiss, ELLE Decor, "5 Midcentury-Modern Landmarks You Need to See in the Midwest," 6 Dec. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'city.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.