district

[ dis-trikt ]

noun

1. a division of territory, as of a country, state, or county, marked off for administrative, electoral, or other purposes.
2. a region or locality:

   the theater district; the Lake District.

3. British. a subdivision of a county or a town.
4. the District, the District of Columbia; Washington, D.C.

verb (used with object)

1. to divide into districts.

district

/ ˈdɪstrɪkt /

noun

1. 1. an area of land marked off for administrative or other purposes
   2. ( as modifier )

      district nurse

2. a locality separated by geographical attributes; region
3. any subdivision of any territory, region, etc
4. See metropolitan district
   (in England from 1974 and in Wales 1974–96) any of the subdivisions of the nonmetropolitan counties that elects a council responsible for local planning, housing, rates, etc See also metropolitan district
5. (in Scotland until 1975) a landward division of a county
6. (in Scotland 1975–96) any of the subdivisions of the regions that elected a council responsible for environmental health services, housing, etc
7. any of the 26 areas into which Northern Ireland has been divided since 1973. Elected district councils are responsible for environmental health services, etc

verb

1. tr to divide into districts

Other Words From

• inter·district adjective
• outdistrict noun
• pre·district noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of district¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from French, from Medieval Latin distrīctus “exercise of justice, restraining of offenders,” derivative of Latin distringere “to stretch out; detain, occupy,” equivalent to di- suffix of separation + strig- (base of stringere “to bind, tie”) + -tus suffix of verbal action; distrain, di- ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of district¹

C17: from Medieval Latin districtus area of jurisdiction, from Latin distringere to stretch out; see distrain

Example Sentences

As cases skyrocket, UNC will not be the only educational institution or school district to move online again.

From TechCrunch

Giusti, with the district, again reiterated the practices were not school-affiliated.

From Voice of San Diego

The district stated that particles from burnt structures had likely been drawn into the water system.

From Popular-Science

For members representing swing districts, it will seem risky to spend time and energy on process issues that might be seen as partisan power grabs.

From Vox

People in their districts are going hungry and facing evictions, and small businesses are crumbling.

From Washington Post

So, in an unusual order (PDF) issued on New Years Day, District Judge Robert Hinkle clarified the issue.

From The Daily Beast

It cost several thousand dollars and a high-powered former district attorney to get the charges dropped.

From The Daily Beast

In the weeks following the Sept. 9, car bombing at the Iranian base, Iran raided a village in the Pakistani district of Chagai.

From The Daily Beast

In January 2014, a lifelong District of Columbia parks employee, Medric Mills, collapsed while walking with his grown daughter.

From The Daily Beast

“We do not know where he is,” District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman told reporters.

From The Daily Beast

Thus far Boston banks have received more benefits from this bank than have the other banks in this district.

From Project Gutenberg

The rebellion spread to their district, and many of the natives on and about the estate were eager to join in the movement.

From Project Gutenberg

Some of the tribes inhabiting the district of the lower Amazon indulge in snuff-taking.

From Project Gutenberg

It must have been incorporated under a special or general law of the State or district in which it is located.

From Project Gutenberg

In addition to asbestos, it is worthy of note that the whole of the Thetford district is rich in minerals.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• commune
• community
• department
• locality
• neighborhood
• parish
• precinct
• region
• section
• sector
• territory