free city
The concept of a 'free city' has evolved from historical autonomous cities in Europe to modern special economic zones.
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Definition
C1Historical
(chiefly historical)A city that enjoyed self-governance and was directly responsible to a king or emperor, common in medieval and early modern Europe.
Example
- During the Holy Roman Empire, cities like Frankfurt and Hamburg were considered free cities.
B2Economics
(modern)An area with distinct business and trade laws aimed at promoting economic growth, often referred to as a special economic zone.
Example
- Shenzhen in China is an example of a modern free city that has spurred significant economic development.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "free city":
free worldfreedom of the cityfree countryfree statefederal cityhero citycore city