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• town
  town

  noun

  a thickly populated area, usually smaller than a city and larger than a village, having fixed boundaries and certain local powers of government.
• Town
  Town

  noun

  Ithiel 1784–1844, U.S. architect.

town

¹ American  

[taun] / taʊn /

noun

• towns
  plural

1. a thickly populated area, usually smaller than a city and larger than a village, having fixed boundaries and certain local powers of government.

2. a densely populated area of considerable size, as a city or borough.

3. (especially in New England) a municipal corporation with less elaborate organization and powers than a city.

4. (in most U.S. states except those of New England) a township.

5. any urban area, as contrasted with its surrounding countryside.

6. the inhabitants of a town; townspeople; citizenry.

7. the particular town or city in mind or referred to.

   living on the outskirts of town; to be out of town.

8. a nearby or neighboring city; the chief town or city in a district.

   I am staying at a friend's apartment in town.

9. the main business or shopping area in a town or city; downtown.

10. British.

    1. a village or hamlet in which a periodic market or fair is held.

    2. any village or hamlet.

11. Scot. a farmstead.

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adjective

1. of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or belonging to a town.

   town laws; town government; town constable.

idioms

1. go to town,

   1. to be successful.

   2. to do well, efficiently, or speedily.

      The engineers really went to town on those plans.

   3. to lose restraint or inhibition; overindulge.

2. paint the town. paint.

3. on the town,

   1. Informal. in quest of entertainment in a city's nightclubs, bars, etc.; out to have a good time.

      a bunch of college kids out on the town.

   2. supported by the public charity of the state or community; on relief.

Town ² American  

[taun] / taʊn /

noun

1. Ithiel 1784–1844, U.S. architect.

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town British  

/ taʊn /

noun

1. 1. a densely populated urban area, typically smaller than a city and larger than a village, having some local powers of government and a fixed boundary

   2. ( as modifier )

      town life

2. a city, borough, or other urban area

3. (in the US) a territorial unit of local government that is smaller than a county; township

4. the nearest town or commercial district

5. London or the chief city of an area

6. the inhabitants of a town

7. the permanent residents of a university town as opposed to the university staff and students Compare gown

8. 1. to make a supreme or unrestricted effort; go all out

   2. informal to lose one's temper

9. seeking out entertainments and amusements

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town More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing town

• all over the place (town)
• ghost town
• go to town
• man about town
• on the town
• one-horse town
• only game in town
• out of town
• paint the town red
• talk of the town

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Synonym Usage

See community.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• intertown
  adjective
• townish
  adjective
• townless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• towns
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of town

First recorded before 900; Middle English toun, tun, Old English tūn “walled or fenced place, courtyard, farmstead, village”; cognate with Old Norse tūn “homefield,” German Zaun “fence”; akin to Old Irish dún “citadel, fortress” ( see down ³ ( def. ))

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Explanation

A town is an area where people live that's bigger than a village and smaller than a city. A town has a specific boundary, a name, and (usually) its own government. A town is essentially a small city. It's got a smaller population and usually has fewer big apartment buildings and more single-family homes. When something or someone is in town, they are visiting your town: "I'm so excited that the circus is in town!" And if you go out on the town, you take advantage of the nightlife in a town or city.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

town Town towns

That’s the combined capacity of the six chargers at a new charging station for Tesla semi trucks in Ellabell, Ga. Operating at maximum capacity, they would collectively draw as much electricity as a small town.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

"It's great," one woman who came to watch told AFP in the town dotted with Chinese as well as Korean shops and restaurants, where residents were relieved the bridge had finally open.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

Sanchez was in town to cover a Colts game in his role as an analyst for Fox Sports.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026

"This is about coming together for growth we can pitch for infrastructure funds that can unlock investment in our town centre."

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

“In a few days,” warns Caesar, “we’ll arrive in Red River, the last town before the river crossing. There’ll be even more land rushers than the last stop.”

From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

As the Aussies prepare for their first Test series in South Africa since the ball-tampering controversy in Cape Town, the director of the TV coverage that day admits serendipity took down Steve Smith and co.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

Saints were expelled from the Championship play-offs in May after admitting spying on training sessions involving Oxford United, Ipswich Town, and Middlesbrough before the play-off semi-final.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

To celebrate the victory, two buses, carrying players and staff, travelled from the club's ground at Belle Vue to Wakefield Town Hall for a civic reception.

From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026

For seven centuries, the low-slung shoreline of Lamu Old Town, set against the turquoise waters of Kenya’s coast, has attracted traders and speculators alike.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026

All the dogs were brought back on board, in case Dog Town was destroyed by the shifting ice.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong

Most towns and local governments have rules on how big a lot must be for a builder to construct a single-family home on it.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026

Toxic smoke from peatland as well as forest fires has shrouded towns and cities in the region for more than a month, sending respiratory complaints skyrocketing.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026

Temperatures by Thursday dawn will be between 3 and 9 Celsius in most towns and cities although rural places could be several degrees lower.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

As in other resort towns, hotels and ski mountains were charging dizzying rates to keep up with operational costs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

Despite the recent rationing of sugar, tires, gas, tea, and coffee, a big turnout of visitors was expected in the coastal towns that summer.

From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple

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Related Words

• city
• metropolis
• municipality
• township

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