Meaning & use
polis
An ancient Greek city-state, functioning as an independent political and social community with its own government.
See it in a sentence
Athens was the most influential polis of ancient Greece, famed for its early democracy.
Each polis had its own laws, army, and patron deity, despite sharing a common Greek culture.
A note on using this word
Polis is the root of many English words, including politics and metropolis, reflecting its central role in Greek civic life.
Words with a similar meaning
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