noun
- An independent city-state in ancient Greece, typically consisting of a city and its surrounding territory.
Usage: historical; often capitalized when referring to a specific city-state
Examples
- Athens was one of the most powerful poleis in ancient Greece.
- Each polis had its own government, laws, and army.
- The polis of Sparta was known for its military strength.
- Citizens of a polis felt a strong sense of loyalty to their city-state.
- The concept of the polis was central to ancient Greek civilization.