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

City hall estimates the access ticket to the Trevi Fountain could bring in 6.5 million euros a year, Gualtieri said.

From Barron's • Dec. 19, 2025

Alemseged and others have called on the City Council to reject McDonnell’s appointment; they plan to gather outside City hall on Friday to voice their opposition.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 8, 2024

City hall hopes to offer it later this year, accessible through phone or web, a city official said Thursday.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 5, 2024

City hall had not sufficiently considered that removing traffic from that area of the city center would only shift congestion to adjacent neighborhoods, he added.

From New York Times • Apr. 2, 2024

City hall, as I learned on the sweltering summer day I showed up to meet Valerie for a job interview, was both alarmingly and upliftingly packed with people.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Related Words

• town hall