city-state

noun

Definition of city-statenext
as in republic
a state that has its own government and consists of a city and the area around it the city-states of ancient Greece

Related Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of city-state Athens was a belligerent city-state that fell victim to its own aggressions. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026 The ultra-wealthy city-state of Monaco on the French Riviera is no stranger to luxury hotels—fellow grand dames Hôtel de Paris and Hermitage sit at the heart of the action around Casino Square—each vying to outdo the other with fancy arrivals and impeccably discreet service. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026 As conditions worsened, city-states fought over power and resources. — Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026 As children, Vi and Jinx lose their parents in an abortive revolution in Zaun, and years later find themselves on opposite sides of an unfolding power struggle between the two city-states. — David Faris, TheWeek, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for city-state
Recent Examples of Synonyms for city-state
  1. republic
  2. kingdom
  3. nation
  4. empire
  5. country
  6. duchy
  7. commonwealth
  8. principality
Noun
  • The Prime Minister of the Turkish republic of northern Cyprus, Ünal Üstel, told Turkish media that 237 people had been rescued from the ship, and search efforts were continuing for 23 people.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
  • This panic is also nothing new; television was supposed to rot our brains, and radio before that, and somehow the republic survived.
    — Mckenna Friedland, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of republic
Noun
  • In the 2010s, the kingdom and some of the other Arab Gulf states turned to China for armed drones since the United States refused to sell them any at the time.
    — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • In July this year, Jamaica’s government said two of its three citizens deported to the tiny kingdom have formally declined offers to be repatriated to the Caribbean nation.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of kingdom
Noun
  • Tiani had pledged to improve security in the Sahel nation, a major uranium producer, but jihadist attacks have persisted.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Rescue teams in Nepal have located 187 tourists after deadly landslides ripped through the Himalayan nation on Wednesday, local officials said Saturday, with around 3,000 people still missing on both sides of the Nepal-China border.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of nation
Noun
  • Beyond her entertainment career, Parton built a sprawling and sophisticated business empire.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Court documents have previously suggested the Tates’ online empire brought in millions.
    — Jonny Hallam, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of empire
Noun
  • Some officials argue that would let Iceland keep control of its waters, since no EU country has fished there for decades.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Economic impact of low birth rates Persistently low birth rates could threaten a country’s ability to sustain its economy.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of country
Noun
  • If Jeopardy asks about a European duchy, the European duchy is going to be Luxembourg.
    — Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Louise Haigh will take on the role of Chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, First Secretary of State and Cabinet Office Minister.
    — Callum Sutherland, Time, 20 July 2026
Definition of duchy
Noun
  • And that is our plan here in the commonwealth now with the strictest requirements in the entire country.
    — Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Nine students, represented by their guardians, along with four nonprofit groups, have sued Massachusetts, saying the commonwealth had denied schoolchildren the right to an adequate education and to equal protection under the law.
    — Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of commonwealth
Noun
  • Hard Rock Stadium is now Formula 1’s annual principality while JPMorgan Chase’s expanding South Florida presence mirrors the region’s growing luxury-car economy.
    — Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The principality is traditionally conservative and in 1984 became the last European country to grant women the right to vote in national elections.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of principality

Browse Nearby Words

city slickers
city-state
city-states
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“City-state.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/city-state. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on city-state

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about city-state

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All