district

1 of 2

noun

dis·​trict ˈdi-(ˌ)strikt 

often attributive

1

a

: a territorial division (as for administrative or electoral purposes)

b

: the basic administrative unit for local government in Northern Ireland

2

: an area, region, or section with a distinguishing character

a shopping district

district

2 of 2

verb

districted; districting; districts

transitive verb

: to divide or organize into districts

Synonyms

Noun

• nabe
• neighborhood
• quarter
• section

Examples of district in a Sentence

Noun

Six police officers are in charge of the district.

She represents the eighth congressional district.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

One principal said district insiders told her that 14 guns have been seized on campuses since the start of the school year through November. —Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024

As a result, the Texas Railroad Commission has refused to plug it, claiming the responsibility -- and hefty price tag -- lies with the county water district. —Evan Simon, ABC News, 19 Dec. 2024

Verb

Nevada Any school buses that districts purchase after July 2019 must be equiped with lap-shoulder belts. —Keri Heath, Austin American-Statesman, 14 Nov. 2024

Larger cities, like Surprise and Mesa, are districted, allowing only voters in a respective area to select their representative. —Shawn Raymundo, The Arizona Republic, 25 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, from Medieval Latin districtus jurisdiction, district, from distringere to distrain — more at distrain

First Known Use

Noun

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1792, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing district

• business district
• congressional district
• district attorney
• district court
• federal district
• federal district court
• inter-district
• multimember district
• school district
• senatorial district
• single-member district
• special district
• sub-district
• urban district

Kids Definition

district

1 of 2 noun

dis·​trict ˈdis-(ˌ)trikt 

1

: an area or section (as of a city or nation) set apart for some purpose

a school district

a judicial district

2

: an area or region having some special feature

a coal-mining district

district

2 of 2 verb

: to divide or organize into districts

Legal Definition

district

noun

dis·​trict

: a territorial division (as of a nation, state, county, or city) for administrative, judicial, electoral, or other purposes: as

a

: an administrative unit especially of a town or city established for the performance of a special governmental function

the water district

park district

b

: congressional district

c

: one of the divisions of the United States or of the individual states served by a particular federal or state court