township
Americannoun
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townships
plural
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a unit of local government, usually a subdivision of a county, found in most midwestern and northeastern states of the U.S. and in most Canadian provinces.
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(in U.S. surveys of public land) a region or district approximately 6 miles square (93.2 sq. km), containing 36 sections.
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English History.
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one of the local divisions or districts of a large parish, each containing a village or small town, usually with a church of its own.
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the manor, parish, etc., itself.
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its inhabitants.
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(in Australia)
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a small town or settlement serving as the business center of a rural area.
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the business center of a town or suburb.
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(formerly, in South Africa) a segregated residential settlement for Black people, located outside a city or town.
noun
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a small town
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(in the Scottish Highlands and islands) a small crofting community
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(in the US and Canada) a territorial area, esp a subdivision of a county: often organized as a unit of local government
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(formerly, in South Africa) a planned urban settlement of Black Africans or Coloured people Compare location
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English history
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any of the local districts of a large parish, each division containing a village or small town
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the particular manor or parish itself as a territorial division
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the inhabitants of a township collectively
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Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of township
First recorded before 900; Middle English tounship “community,” Old English tūnscipe “village community”; see origin at town, -ship
Explanation
A township is a community that's smaller or more widely scattered than a city. It would be a huge change to move from a little township in North Dakota to Los Angeles. The exact definition of township varies widely depending where you are in the world. Even in the U.S., the meaning differs from state to state. Townships are generally geographic areas that are smaller than counties and controlled by local governments. In some cases, several towns make up a township. In others, a township is simply a rural town that's spread out and sparsely populated. The Old English root meant "parish of a hundred."
Vocabulary lists containing township
Human Geography - Middle School
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Human Geography - High School
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5th Grade Human Geography, List 1
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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.
See Examples For:
Five of the victims were said to be from one village, while the remaining nine were from a neighbouring township.
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026
In interviews Adetshina said she was born in Soweto - the South African township next to Johannesburg - and grew up in Cape Town.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
In 2020, Milan Township passed an ordinance that would allow the project to go forward, with Heath’s brother, the township supervisor, abstaining.
From Salon ● Apr. 27, 2026
At noon on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 1806, five large canoes and a pirogue approached the township of St. Louis in the Louisiana Territory.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 2026
At the scene, we found the high metal gates to the township locked and our volunteers waiting patiently outside, demanding entrance.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
With guidance from Henry’s organization, Monroe, Millville and Andover townships passed AI data centers bans or restrictions.
From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2026
Despite a history of human activity that dates back more than 6,000 years, the area wasn’t officially established as the municipality of Val di Fiemme until the three townships merged in January 2020.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 6, 2026
Sunday's election was scheduled to take place in 102 of the country's 330 townships -- the largest of the three rounds of voting.
From Barron's ● Dec. 29, 2025
Even in the townships that are voting, not all constituencies will go to the polls, making it difficult to forecast a possible turnout.
From BBC ● Dec. 27, 2025
From behind the counter Wilfred said, “You all know Mark here. He’s going to tell us the truth about what is going on in the townships, and will answer any question. Go on, Mark.”
From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane
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.
