local option

noun

1. a right of choice exercised by a minor political division, as a county, especially as to allowing the sale of liquor.

local option

noun

1. (esp in Scotland, New Zealand, and the US) the privilege of a municipality, county, etc, to determine by referendum whether a particular activity, esp the sale of liquor, shall be permitted there

Word History and Origins

Origin of local option¹

First recorded in 1875–80