City — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈsi-tē/

Meaning & Definition of City

City (noun)

  1. an inhabited place of greater size, population, or importance than a town or village
  2. an incorporated British town usually of major size or importance having the status of an episcopal see
  3. the financial district of London

City (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a thickly settled, highly populated area

    "commuters who drive every day between their homes in the suburbs and their jobs in the city"

    similar: asphalt jungle, burg, cosmopolis, megacity, megalopolis, metropolis, municipality, town
    related: borough, conurbation, urban sprawl, exurb, suburb, suburbia, central city, edge city, garden city, core city, downtown, inner city, midtown

Related Entry: City slicker (noun)

City slicker is a different word from City. The synonyms below are for city slicker, not for city.

  1. a person with the outlook, experience, and manners thought to be typical of big city dwellers

    "with their snotty attitude, the city slickers quickly wore out their welcome"

    similar: cosmopolitan, cosmopolite, metropolitan, slicker, sophisticate
    related: urbanite, worldling
    opposite: bumpkin, hick, provincial, rustic, yokel

Related Entry: City-state (noun)

City-state is a different word from City. The synonyms below are for city-state, not for city.

  1. a state that has its own government and consists of a city and the area around it

    "the city-states of ancient Greece"

    similar: microstate, ministate, nation-state, commonwealth, country, land, nation, sovereignty, domain, dominion, empire, kingdom, realm, republic, duchy, dukedom, emirate, principality, seigniory, sultanate, democracy, dictatorship, monarchy, monocracy, oligarchy, sovereign, theocracy, client state, colony, condominium, dependency, mandate, province, settlement, soil, trust territory, fatherland, homeland, motherland, great power, power, sea power, superpower, world power, welfare state

Related Entry: City slickers (noun)

City slickers is a different word from City. The synonyms below are for city slickers, not for city.

  1. a person with the outlook, experience, and manners thought to be typical of big city dwellers

    "with their snotty attitude, the city slickers quickly wore out their welcome"

    similar: cosmopolitans, cosmopolites, metropolitans, slickers, sophisticates
    related: urbanites, worldlings
    opposite: bumpkins, hicks, provincials, rustics, yokels

Related Entry: City-states (noun)

City-states is a different word from City. The synonyms below are for city-states, not for city.

  1. a state that has its own government and consists of a city and the area around it

    "the city-states of ancient Greece"

    similar: microstates, ministates, nation-states, commonwealths, countries, lands, nations, sovereignties, domains, dominions, empires, kingdoms, realms, republics, duchies, dukedoms, emirates, principalities, seigniories, sultanates, democracies, dictatorships, monarchies, monocracies, oligarchies, sovereigns, theocracies, client states, colonies, condominiums, dependencies, mandates, provinces, settlements, soil, trust territories, fatherlands, homelands, motherlands, great powers, powers, sea powers, superpowers, world powers, welfare states

Related Entry: Central city (noun)

Central city is a different word from City. The synonyms below are for central city, not for city.

  1. as in garden city, edge city

    similar: edge city, garden city, exurb, suburb, suburbia, core city, downtown, inner city, midtown, urban sprawl, conurbation, borough, asphalt jungle, burg, city, cosmopolis, megacity, megalopolis, metropolis, municipality, town

Related Entry: Core city (noun)

Core city is a different word from City. The synonyms below are for core city, not for city.

  1. as in downtown, inner city

    similar: downtown, inner city, midtown, central city, edge city, garden city, exurb, suburb, suburbia, urban sprawl, conurbation, borough, asphalt jungle, burg, city, cosmopolis, megacity, megalopolis, metropolis, municipality, town

Related Entry: Edge city (noun)

Edge city is a different word from City. The synonyms below are for edge city, not for city.

  1. as in central city, garden city

    similar: central city, garden city, exurb, suburb, suburbia, core city, downtown, inner city, midtown, urban sprawl, conurbation, borough, asphalt jungle, burg, city, cosmopolis, megacity, megalopolis, metropolis, municipality, town

Related Entry: Garden city (noun)

Garden city is a different word from City. The synonyms below are for garden city, not for city.

  1. as in central city, edge city

    similar: central city, edge city, exurb, suburb, suburbia, core city, downtown, inner city, midtown, urban sprawl, conurbation, borough, asphalt jungle, burg, city, cosmopolis, megacity, megalopolis, metropolis, municipality, town

Related Entry: Inner city (noun)

Inner city is a different word from City. The synonyms below are for inner city, not for city.

  1. as in downtown, core city

    similar: core city, downtown, midtown, central city, edge city, garden city, exurb, suburb, suburbia, urban sprawl, conurbation, borough, asphalt jungle, burg, city, cosmopolis, megacity, megalopolis, metropolis, municipality, town

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for City

The most common words with a similar meaning to City:

asphalt jungle, burg, cosmopolis, megacity, megalopolis, metropolis, municipality, town

Related Words for City

borough, conurbation, urban sprawl, exurb, suburb, suburbia, central city, edge city, garden city, core city, downtown, inner city, midtown

Word Forms of City

Inflections: cities

Origin & Etymology of City

Middle English citie large or small town, from Anglo-French cité, from Medieval Latin civitat-, civitas, from Latin, citizenship, state, city of Rome, from civis citizen hind

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for City

Words & Phrases Containing City

city clerk, city council, city editor, city father, city hall, city manager, city planning, city room, city slicker

Frequently Asked Questions about City

What does "City" mean?

"City" means an inhabited place of greater size, population, or importance than a town or village. As a noun, it is defined as: an inhabited place of greater size, population, or importance than a town or village.

What is another word for "City"?

Other words for "City" include asphalt jungle, burg, cosmopolis, megacity, megalopolis, metropolis, municipality and town. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "City" you intend.

What are different ways to say "City"?

There are 21 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "City". Common alternatives include asphalt jungle, burg, cosmopolis, megacity, megalopolis, metropolis, municipality and town.

How do you use "City" in a sentence?

Examples of "City" in a sentence: "commuters who drive every day between their homes in the suburbs and their jobs in the city".

Is "City" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"City" is a noun.

Is "City" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "City" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "City"?

"City" is pronounced /ˈsi-tē/.

What is the origin of the word "City"?

"City" comes from Middle English citie large or small town, from Anglo-French cité, from Medieval Latin civitat-, civitas, from Latin, citizenship, state, city of Rome, from civis citizen hind. First known use: 13th century.