city hall

noun

(often initial capital letters)

1. the administration building of a city government.

2. a city administration or government.

3. Informal.,  a bureaucracy or bureaucratic rules and regulations, especially that of a city government.

   You can't fight city hall.

city hall

noun

1. the building housing the administrative offices of a city or municipal government

2. 1. municipal government

   2. the officials of a municipality collectively

3. informal,  bureaucracy

Word History and Origins

Origin of city hall¹

An Americanism dating back to 1665–75

Example Sentences

The incident made headlines in Spain, and Madrid city hall said it was reviewing whether a fine was warranted for holding the event without a permit.

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The rebuke to city hall led Mayor Watson to call for an audit of government spending—which he might have thought of before seeking a tax hike.

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People were seen protesting outside the BHV department store opposite Paris's city hall, where the Shein outlet is set to open this week.

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Located across from the capital’s city hall, the store traces its history back to the 1850s.

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Outside the city hall, demonstrators who included striking government workers carried banners critical of France and saying "Rajoelina and Macron out".

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Related Words

• town hall