English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun

Acropolis

uh-KRO-puh-lihs

Acropolis (noun) means a fortified hill at the center of an ancient Greek city, used as a defensive stronghold and often home to major temples. Example: “Visitors climbed the acropolis to see the ruins of the old temple.”

noun
1
A fortified hill at the center of an ancient Greek city, used as a defensive stronghold and often home to major temples.
"Visitors climbed the acropolis to see the ruins of the old temple."

How to use Acropolis

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe elevated, fortified section of an ancient Greek city, most famously the one in Athens.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
the Acropolis of Athens ancient acropolis

Word forms

acropolises plural, acropoleis plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “Acropolis” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Visitors climbed the _____ to see the ruins of the old temple.

Etymology

From Greek akropolis, joining akros ("highest") and polis ("city") — literally "the highest part of the city."

Origin: Greek

Rhymes for Acropolis

See all rhymes for Acropolis →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Acropolis” mean?

The word “Acropolis” means a fortified hill at the center of an ancient Greek city, used as a defensive stronghold and often home to major temples. In plain terms, the elevated, fortified section of an ancient Greek city, most famously the one in Athens.

How do you pronounce “Acropolis”?

“Acropolis” is pronounced uh-KRO-puh-lihs (/əˈkɹɒpəlɪs/ in IPA).

How do you use “Acropolis” in a sentence?

Here is “Acropolis” used in a sentence: “Visitors climbed the acropolis to see the ruins of the old temple.”

What part of speech is “Acropolis”?

“Acropolis” is a noun.

Where does the word “Acropolis” come from?

The word “Acropolis” comes from Greek. From Greek akropolis, joining akros ("highest") and polis ("city") — literally "the highest part of the city.".

Featured in

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial