From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcity-stateˌcity-ˈstate / $ ˈ.. ˌ., ˌ.. ˈ./ noun [countable] PGan independent state that consists of a city and the surrounding country area, especially in the past the city-state of Athens
Examples from the Corpus
city-state• As cities and their monetary systems organized further into city-states and then into nations, an economic system called mercantilism developed.• The old realm of Caledor was eclipsed by other realms including the fast-rising mercantile city-state of Lothern.• The Empire, a loose alliance of city-states and provinces owing allegiance to its Emperor, and the kingdom of Bretonnia.• The exhibition organisers have preferred to explore the social, political and religious mechanisms of the Etruscan confederation of city-states.• They also took turns administering the city-state, drawing lots to settle who would take on which job.• The sense of insecurity which affected the city-states of Mesopotamia led to a rudimentary interest in the history of social order.• In the Politics the existence of the city-state is taken for granted.• However, Eataine is simply the hinterland of the vast city-state of Lothern. 