city of god, the: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Literary, Academic, Religious, Cinematic. Highly formal and specialized when referring to Augustine's work; culturally specific when referring to the film.
Quick answer
What does “city of god, the” mean?
A proper noun most famously referring to St. Augustine's 5th-century philosophical/theological treatise 'De Civitate Dei', which contrasts the earthly city (the City of Man) with the heavenly, eternal city of God.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A proper noun most famously referring to St. Augustine's 5th-century philosophical/theological treatise 'De Civitate Dei', which contrasts the earthly city (the City of Man) with the heavenly, eternal city of God. It is also the title of a 2002 Brazilian crime film set in the Cidade de Deus favela of Rio de Janeiro.
Used metaphorically or allusively to refer to: 1) Heaven, the divine kingdom, or a perfect, utopian spiritual society. 2) Any community, real or imagined, characterized by extreme piety, moral purity, or divine governance. 3) (From the film) A place of extreme urban violence, poverty, and social breakdown, often with ironic contrast to the phrase's original holy meaning.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences. The pronunciation of 'God' may follow regional norms (/ɡɒd/ vs /ɡɑːd/).
Connotations
In both varieties, the primary connotation is learned or cultural. The film title is internationally recognized.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse. Higher frequency in theological, philosophical, historical, or film studies contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “city of god, the” in a Sentence
[The] City of God [argues/portrays/depicts]...In [The] City of God, [Author/Director]...the [concept/film] City of GodVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in theology, philosophy, patristic studies, Latin American studies, and film criticism. E.g., 'Augustine's The City of God was a response to the sack of Rome.'
Everyday
Rare. Might be used by someone discussing classic literature, theology, or world cinema.
Technical
A standard reference in theological and philosophical texts. Also a key text in film studies for discussions of Brazilian cinema and urban representation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “city of god, the”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “city of god, the”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “city of god, the”
- Incorrect article placement: 'the City of God' not 'City of the God'.
- Using lower case: 'city of god'.
- Assuming it refers to a specific physical city like Jerusalem or Vatican City without context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, in its original theological context, it is a metaphorical and spiritual concept representing the community of God's followers and the eternal heaven. The film is set in a real favela named Cidade de Deus in Rio de Janeiro.
Not fully, but understanding that it represents an ideal, holy, or perfect society in contrast to a flawed earthly one is key. Most cultural references play on this core dichotomy.
The film is named after the actual favela, 'Cidade de Deus'. The title is deeply ironic, contrasting the violent, impoverished reality of the neighborhood with the peace and holiness suggested by the phrase.
Pronounce it as you would the normal words: CITY of GOD. The 'The' at the beginning is usually pronounced /ðə/ before the consonant sound in 'City'.
A proper noun most famously referring to St. Augustine's 5th-century philosophical/theological treatise 'De Civitate Dei', which contrasts the earthly city (the City of Man) with the heavenly, eternal city of God.
City of god, the is usually literary, academic, religious, cinematic. highly formal and specialized when referring to augustine's work; culturally specific when referring to the film. in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A modern City of God (ironic)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'GOD' is in the phrase. For the book, it's about GOD's city (heaven). For the film, it's a place where you might pray to GOD to survive.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY IS A CITY (specifically, a spiritual or moral society is a divine, perfect city).
Practice
Quiz
In contemporary discourse, 'City of God' most commonly refers to: