polis

noun po·lis \ ˈpä-ləs \

Definition of polis

plural poleis play \ˈpä-ˌlās\

: a Greek city-state; broadly : a state or society especially when characterized by a sense of community

Recent Examples of polis from the Web

Writing at the end of the first century, the Jewish historian Josephus described how the small fishing village of Bethsaida became a Greco-Roman city, or polis, during the reign of Philip the Tetrarch in A.D. 30.

— National Geographic, "The Real Story Behind the "House of Jesus' Apostles" Discovery," 7 Aug. 2017
In politics, how one leads the polis and how one manages the machinery of government are two distinct phenomena.

— douglas hess, Fortune, "Why Trump’s Management Style Doesn’t Work," 28 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of polis

Greek — more at police

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1884

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

-polis

noun combining form

Definition of -polis

: city

megalopolis

Origin and Etymology of -polis

Late Latin, from Greek, from polis

Learn More about polis

See words that rhyme with polis Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about polis

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