city
siht-ee-SIH-ee
City (noun) means a large, important settlement, generally bigger than a town and often with its own local government. Example: “They moved from the countryside to the city for work.”
noun
1
A large, important settlement, generally bigger than a town and often with its own local government.
"São Paulo is the largest city in South America."
"All our stations have changed. We have to constrain numbers. We have to mandate face coverings. These are massive changes in what is a public transport city. This is not a car city."
— Mike Brown talks to Paul Clifton, Leading London's (2020)
"They moved from the countryside to the city for work."
"Our city has a busy market and a large railway station."
"Cities often have better public transport than small villages do."
2
The central business or downtown area of a settlement.
"He commutes into the city every morning for his job."
"I'm going into the city today to do some shopping."
"Lunchtime in the city means crowds of office workers hurrying to cafes."
"Parking in the city is expensive, so many staff take the train."
How to use city
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA large urban settlement, or, informally, the business/downtown core of one.
Common pairings
inner city
capital city
city centre
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Word forms
- Plural
- cities
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They moved from the countryside to the _____ for work.
Etymology
From Old French cite, from Late Latin civitatem ("citizenry, community"), from Latin civis ("citizen").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for city
See all rhymes for city →Frequently asked questions
What does “city” mean?
The word “city” means a large, important settlement, generally bigger than a town and often with its own local government. In plain terms, a large urban settlement, or, informally, the business/downtown core of one.
How do you pronounce “city”?
“City” is pronounced siht-ee-SIH-ee (/ˈsɪt.i/ [ˈsɪɾ.i] in IPA).
How do you use “city” in a sentence?
Here is “city” used in a sentence: “They moved from the countryside to the city for work.”
What is the opposite of “city”?
The opposite of “city” — its antonyms — are town and village.
What part of speech is “city”?
“City” is a noun.
Where does the word “city” come from?
The word “city” comes from Late Latin. From Old French cite, from Late Latin civitatem ("citizenry, community"), from Latin civis ("citizen").
Is “city” a common word?
“City” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “city” have?
“City” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large, important settlement, generally bigger than a town and often with its own local government.
What is the difference between a city and a town?
A city is larger and more important than a town, usually with a bigger population, a wider range of services, and often its own local government. The exact boundary varies by country: in the UK, city status is granted by royal charter, while in the US it depends on population and local law.
What is the difference between a city and a metropolis?
Every metropolis is a city, but not every city is a metropolis. A metropolis is a very large, densely populated city that acts as a major economic and cultural centre for its region, such as London or Tokyo. 'City' is the general term; 'metropolis' stresses exceptional size and importance.
What makes a settlement a city?
There is no single worldwide rule. Common factors include a large population, dense development, a range of services and industries, and some form of self-government. In some countries an official status or charter is required, while in others any sufficiently large urban area is simply called a city by custom.
What is an example of a city?
Paris, New York, Cairo, and Mumbai are all cities — large, important settlements with millions of residents. Smaller places such as Oxford or Cambridge also count, showing that a city is defined by its status and role rather than population size alone.
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