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 Phrases Containing city Learn More About city

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 Hughes opened in 1851, the second high school in the city, named for Thomas Hughes, who bequeathed land for a school fund in 1824. — Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 14 Aug. 2022 The heat wave, named Zoe, was recorded July 24-27 in the city of Seville, in southwestern Spain, said José María Martín Olalla, an associate professor in the department of condensed matter physics at Sevilla University. — Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 14 Aug. 2022 As of 2015, renters outnumbered homeowners in the city for the first time since 1950. — Nushrat Rahman, Detroit Free Press, 13 Aug. 2022 Seven people have died from gun violence over the past six days in the city, four of them killed in less than four hours Thursday night and Friday morning. — Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 13 Aug. 2022 The Avon Lake Fire Department is offering residents, and those employed in the city, an opportunity to learn about fire department operations during a Citizens Fire Academy. — cleveland, 13 Aug. 2022 Starukh added that the strike—which consisted of at least five long-range rockets— damaged civilian infrastructure in the city. — Katya Soldak, Forbes, 13 Aug. 2022 There were 62 fatal crashes in the city in all of 2021. — Steven Martinez, Journal Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2022 So far this year, police have shot and killed four people in the city. — oregonlive, 13 Aug. 2022 See More

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.