city upon a hill

noun

A morally exemplary settlement, destined by God for greater things. Most often used to refer to the United States, or more specifically the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

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Meanings

noun

alternative city on a hill

  1. A morally exemplary settlement, destined by God for greater things. Most often used to refer to the United States, or more specifically the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Origin

From Matthew 5:14. Cited by English colonist John Winthrop in the 1630 sermon A Model of Christian Charity. In turn, Winthrop's sermon was co-opted by later figures as an example of American exceptionalism.

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Cite this entry
APA

city upon a hill. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/city%20upon%20a%20hill

MLA

“city upon a hill.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/city%20upon%20a%20hill. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “city upon a hill,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/city%20upon%20a%20hill.

Source: city upon a hill on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.