municipality

noun

mu·​nic·​i·​pal·​i·​ty myu̇-ˌni-sə-ˈpa-lə-tē 

plural municipalities

1

: a primarily urban political unit having corporate (see corporate sense 1a) status and usually powers of self-government

Elections were held in the municipality.

2

: the governing body of a municipality

The municipality approved the budget for the year.

Synonyms

• asphalt jungle
• burg
• city
• cosmopolis
• megacity
• megalopolis
• metropolis
• town

Examples of municipality in a Sentence

laws that have been enacted by many states and municipalities

a municipality with an excellent police department

Recent Examples on the Web

Robert is a descendent of a prominent Swiss family Raised in the municipality of Berneck, St. Gallen in Switzerland, Robert comes from a high-class lineage. —Erica Marrison, Peoplemag, 22 June 2024

Avocados growing on trees in an orchard in the municipality of Ario de Rosales, in the Michoacan State, Mexico, on September 21, 2023. —CBS News, 21 June 2024

Other area municipalities have had sister cities, including Geneva, West Chicago and Naperville. —Steve Lord, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2024

While enacted, a system is set up for state agencies, municipalities, and other partners to coordinate with the United Way’s 211 number to make sure that information regarding cooling centers is available to anyone statewide. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

municipality

noun

mu·​nic·​i·​pal·​i·​ty myu̇-ˌnis-ə-ˈpal-ət-ē 

plural municipalities

: a self-governing city or town

Legal Definition

municipality

noun

mu·​nic·​i·​pal·​i·​ty myu̇-ˌni-sə-ˈpa-lə-tē 

plural municipalities

: a primarily urban municipal corporation

also : the governing body of a municipality