municipal
Americanadjective
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of or relating to a town or city or its local government.
municipal elections.
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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
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"Shooting an Elephant" by George Orwell
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"Democracy in America, Vol. 1" by Alexis de Tocqueville, Introduction–Chapter 5
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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.
Annecy Municipal Police has been contacted for comment.
From BBC • Jun. 25, 2026
“WE WON! Strike is off!” read an announcement from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299.
From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026
Lisa Washburn, a managing director at bond research firm Municipal Market Analytics, said Ciccarone’s study is a first step toward filling a longstanding information gap in municipal finance.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026
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
Going forward, our paper chain will be stored in the Chokecherry Municipal Garage.
From "Linked" by Gordon Korman
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.
