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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• local governments
  plural

Etymology

Origin of local government

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

local government

They had spent more than 16 hours floating at sea after their jet ski capsized, local government official Amorn Chomchoey said.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

Property taxes can increase after the first year if the local government reassesses the home’s value after it changes hands, or if the property’s assessed value changes under local tax rules.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 15, 2026

Thongchai, who was chairman of the Nonthaburi local government administration, later died of his wounds, according to Sakon Sukprom, director of Phra Nang Klao hospital.

From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026

Last month, Bass signed an ordinance that prohibits city personnel from providing anyone outside local government access to data that can be used to determine someone’s immigration status.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

Doha thought he was someone who worked in the local government office.

From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh

Related Words

• municipality