municipal
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to a town or city or its local government.
municipal elections.
-
Archaic. pertaining to the internal affairs of a state or nation rather than to international affairs.
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of municipal
First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin mūnicipālis, from mūnicip-, stem of mūniceps “citizen of a free town” (from mūni(a) “duties” + -ceps, combining form of capere “to take”; cf. prince) + -ālis -al 1
Explanation
A municipality refers to a village, town, or city that's usually governed by a mayor and council. From this noun, we get the adjective municipal, which you can use to describe something that relates to a town or its government. Your town's city council may have offices in the municipal building downtown. If you want to fight city hall, that would be the place to go. Municipal also more generally describes anything related to the town or city itself. If you live within the city limits, for example, your house may be hooked into the municipal water supply, but if you live outside the city limits you may have to have your own well.
Vocabulary lists containing municipal
Nothing But the Truth
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Shooting an Elephant" by George Orwell
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Democracy in America, Vol. 1" by Alexis de Tocqueville, Introduction–Chapter 5
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It remains uncertain whether Hamilton ever constructed the mechanism, but a detailed sketch preserved in the Bordeaux Municipal Library served as the foundation for its modern recreation.
From Science Daily • May 2, 2026
Xiong Jinghua, a senior official in the Beijing Municipal People's Congress, said the goal was to "strike the best balance" between safety and ensuring technological and economic progress.
From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026
“This work is about protecting people, it’s not about generating revenue, and it’s not about punishing drivers,” said Julie Kirschbaum, director of transportation at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026
Municipal councils oversee water, sanitation and local infrastructure but do not enact legislation.
From Barron's • Apr. 25, 2026
“And the next award is our evening-wear winner. She will receive a trophy courtesy of Royal Crown Trophies and a fifty-dollar cash award sponsored by the Newark Municipal Council. And the winner is...Stephanie Bowles!”
From "Like Vanessa" by Tami Charles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
