annapolis
|an-na-po-lis|
/əˈnæpəlɪs/
city named for Anne
Etymology
'annapolis' originates from English, specifically the place name 'Annapolis', formed from the personal name 'Anne' and the Greek word 'polis', where 'polis' meant 'city'.
'annapolis' changed from colonial-era references tying the settlement to 'Anne' (honoring Princess Anne)—phrases like 'Anne's town' or early forms combining 'Anne' + 'polis'—and eventually became the fixed modern English place name 'Annapolis'.
Initially, it meant 'city of Anne' (a name honoring Princess Anne), but over time it evolved into the proper name 'Annapolis' without implying a literal 'city of Anne' in ordinary usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the capital city of the U.S. state of Maryland, located on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River; seat of Anne Arundel County and home to the United States Naval Academy.
annapolis is the capital of Maryland and home to the U.S. Naval Academy.
Noun 2
a historical reference to the city that briefly served as the temporary capital of the United States in 1783 (when the Continental Congress met there).
In 1783, annapolis briefly served as the capital of the United States.
Last updated: 2025/08/15 03:07