town meeting
Americannoun
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a general meeting of the inhabitants of a town.
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(especially in New England) a legislative assembly of the qualified voters of a town.
noun
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an assembly of the inhabitants of a town
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(esp in New England) an assembly of the qualified voters of a town. Such a meeting may exercise all the powers of local government
Etymology
Origin of town meeting
First recorded in 1630–40
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.
And now, ahead of a May town meeting that could decide whether the homeowners can expand the geotubes project to protect more homes—someone or something has struck.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026
The “Biggest Little Town in Tennessee” had called a town meeting, and its entire identity was at stake.
From Slate • Nov. 6, 2025
He said town councillors were in early discussions regarding some kind of memorial for those who died, and that it would be further discussed in the annual town meeting later.
From BBC • May 19, 2025
Last year, residents of neighboring Morristown voted to switch to a secret ballot system, ending their town meeting tradition.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 17, 2024
We’d just come from a town meeting, where the Eagle announced the school was going to build a playground by the lake in memory of Alaska.
From "Looking for Alaska" by John Green
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
