Sentence:  Manchester, incorporated in 1838, was made the centre of a bishopric in 1847 and became a <WSD>city</WSD> in 1853. Liverpool was transformed into a <WSD>city</WSD> by Royal Charter when the new diocese of Liverpool was created in 1880. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  (UK) A settlement granted special status by royal charter or letters patent; traditionally, a settlement with a cathedral regardless of size.