city-state

noun

ˈsi-tē-ˌstāt 

also -ˈstāt

: an autonomous state consisting of a city and surrounding territory

Examples of city-state in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, about 137 kilometers north of the Equator, Singapore is a city-state known for its modern urban environment and high standards of living. — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026

Also intertwined are ancient myths of warring city-states, the raw, moody poetry of John Keats, and the modern battle between a faithless husband and his wife, the poem’s raging speaker. — Merve Emre, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026

Debating literary currency The scheme has sparked debate in the affluent city-state over whether cash can truly cultivate a lifelong love for books. — Kathleen Magramo, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026

By the later Middle Ages, Italian city-states such as Venice and Genoa were major European trading centers, importing goods from the eastern Mediterranean and distributing them to markets across Europe. — Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for city-state

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids Definition

city-state

noun

ˈsit-ē-ˈstāt, 

-ˌstāt

: a self-governing state consisting of a city and surrounding territory