city

noun, often attributive \ˈsi-tē\

: a place where people live that is larger or more important than a town : an area where many people live and work

: the people in a city

the city : the government of a city

plural cit·ies

Full Definition of CITY

a : an inhabited place of greater size, population, or importance than a town or village

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 United States governed under a charter granted by the state

e : an incorporated municipal unit of the highest class in Canada

: city-state

: the people of a city

slang : a thing, event, or situation that is strongly characterized by a specified quintessential feature or quality <the movie was shoot-out city>

See city defined for English-language learners

See city defined for kids

Origin 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 — more at hind

First Known Use: 13th century