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

For two decades, the two candidates worked closely together in both the National Assembly and Nice’s city hall.

From The Wall Street Journal

Dati has thrown all she has into her campaign for city hall, despite a trial looming in September on corruption charges she denies.

From Barron's

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

From Los Angeles Times

His longshot bid for city hall comes on the anniversary of a wildfire that destroyed his home and became one of California's most destructive blazes on record.

From BBC

The lack of transparency also coincides with a crisis in local news, which has resulted in far less coverage of city halls, courthouses and school boards from the Imperial Valley to the shores of Eureka.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• town hall