po·lis I. \ˈpōlə̇s\noun (pluralpo·leis \-ōˌlīs\) Etymology: Greek, city — more at police : a Greek city-state; specifically: one in its ideal form as a community embodying the organization and fulfillment of man's social relations < the polis is by nature prior to the household and to each of us — C.J.O'Neil > II. Scot & Irish variant of police