City-state (noun)

A sovereign state consisting of a city and its immediate surrounding territory.

Origin:

The word "city-state" comes from the combination of the two words "city" and "state". it was first recorded in english in the early 20th century.

Examples:

1. Ancient Greece was made up of many city-states, such as Athens and Sparta.
2. Singapore is a modern example of a city-state.
3. City-states in ancient Mesopotamia were often in a state of conflict with one another.
4. The city-state of Monaco is the second smallest country in the world.
5. Vatican City, the smallest country in the world, is a city-state.