city hall

American  

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.

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city hall British  

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

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Etymology

Origin of city hall

An Americanism dating back to 1665–75

Example Sentences

To get one more shot to fight city hall, and win.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

Altadena has never organized itself around a traditional civic center, like a city hall plaza or downtown square.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 4, 2026

Kharkiv will have 10 underground schools open by the end of the year, the city hall said.

From Barron's • Dec. 17, 2025

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 3, 2025

Mora, who marched on city hall with her family and a few dozen others, demanding satisfaction.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Related Words

• town hall