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Showing results for local government. Search instead for colonial government.
Synonyms

local government

American  

noun

local governments plural
  1. the administration of the civic affairs of a city, town, or district by its inhabitants rather than by the state or country at large.

  2. the governing body of a town or district.


local government British  

noun

  1. government of the affairs of counties, towns, etc, by locally elected political bodies

  2. the US equivalent of local authority

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of local government

First recorded in 1835–45

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.

See Examples For:

At the Nippon Paper Industries factory in Yatsushiro where damage included a partially collapsed smokestack, the local government said that nine people were unaccounted for.

From Barron's Jul. 29, 2026

Angela Rayner, the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, told the BBC she was "appalled by the horrific rise of antisemitism in the UK".

From BBC Jul. 29, 2026

Lehigh Acres lacks a local government and is straining to keep up with growth as roads, water lines and services fall behind.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 23, 2026

As a reporter, he has covered the U.S. steel industry, real estate, and local government among other beats.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 20, 2026

The meeting between the highest local government official and militant black leaders was itself an important concession, an act of good faith on Grabarek’s part that surprised the black community.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

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