# polis

/ˈpoʊɫaɪz/ (US) · /pˈəʊliz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/polis
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. ancient Greek city-state

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical · Academic

a city in ancient Greece that was like its own small country with its own laws.

For teachers: a city-state in ancient Greece, typically consisting of an urban centre and its surrounding territory, functioning as a sovereign political entity.

- Athens was the most famous polis in the ancient world.
- The development of the polis as a distinct political unit was fundamental to the evolution of Western democratic ideals.

Usage: Usually used in singular or plural (poleis) when discussing classical history.

### 2. the police

noun · CEFR C2 · Dialect · Slang · Informal

a slang word for the police used in Scotland, Ireland, and Northern England.

For teachers: a dialectal variant of 'police', used collectively for the force or to refer to an individual officer.

- He ran away as soon as he saw the polis coming down the street.
- The local youths scattered quickly, shouting a warning that the polis were approaching the estate.

Usage: Often functions as an uncountable noun for the institution, but can be countable for an officer in specific dialects.

Teaching tip: This is highly regional; learners should recognize it in Scottish or Irish literature but avoid using it in standard international English.

## Examples

- The polis was the center of life in ancient Greece.
- In the classical period, each polis maintained its own unique laws and military forces while participating in a shared cultural identity.
- The philosopher Aristotle famously defined the polis as the highest form of human association, arguing that it was essential for the realization of individual virtue and the common good.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.