municipality

[myoo-nis-uh-pal-i-tee]

noun

plural

municipalities 

1. a city, town, or other district possessing corporate existence and usually its own local government.

2. a community under municipal jurisdiction.

3. the governing body of such a district or community.

municipality

/ mjuːˌnɪsɪˈpælɪtɪ /

noun

1. a city, town, or district enjoying some degree of local self-government

2. the governing body of such a unit

Other Word Forms

• intermunicipality noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of municipality¹

From the French word municipalité, dating back to 1780–90. See municipal, -ity

Example Sentences

Exporting New York and Seattle’s building code to other municipalities is based on “the assumption that the fire department is going to be able to respond with sufficient resources,” said DeCrane.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Although some states and municipalities regulate where fossil fuel operations can take place, many areas still allow infrastructure to be located very close to homes and schools.

Read more on Science Daily

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's Social Democrats reeled Wednesday from a stinging blow after local elections saw them lose their more than 100-year hold on the capital and almost halve the municipalities under their control.

Read more on Barron's

She said she worked the phones to make sure the municipality kept up with the tight timeline, pressing her colleagues to have documents ready as soon as they could.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

However, a majority of the 620,000 claimants, including 31 municipalities, argue that they are not sufficiently covered by the deal.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• community 
• district 
• metropolis 
• town 
• township 
• village