city-state
noun
ˈsi-tē-ˌstāt 
also -ˈstāt
: an autonomous state consisting of a city and surrounding territory
Examples of city-state in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
With very few exceptions, an end was declared, not only to empires, but also to city-states, duchies, principalities, emirates, sultanates, caliphates, khanates, agencies, princely states, colonies, suzerains, dependencies, mandates, tributaries, condominia and protectorates.
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Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
The issue is a critical one for the Southeast Asian city-state of 6 million people.
—Chris Wellisz, semafor.com, 16 Apr. 2026
His route to Sparta would have taken him through Corinth, Nemea, and Arcadia and avoided kingdoms or city-states not allied with Athens.
—Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Mar. 2026
The people who say that should visit C2E2, which, year after year, invariably comes together into a South Loop city-state for three days.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
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Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
The issue is a critical one for the Southeast Asian city-state of 6 million people.
—Chris Wellisz, semafor.com, 16 Apr. 2026
His route to Sparta would have taken him through Corinth, Nemea, and Arcadia and avoided kingdoms or city-states not allied with Athens.
—Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Mar. 2026
The people who say that should visit C2E2, which, year after year, invariably comes together into a South Loop city-state for three days.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for city-state
Cite this Entry
“City-state.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/city-state. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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