municipal

1 of 2

adjective

mu·​nic·​i·​pal myu̇-ˈni-s(ə-)pəl 

also myə-, 

mə-, 

-ˈni-sə-bəl

nonstandard ˌmyü-nə-ˈsi-pəl

1

: of or relating to the internal affairs of a major political unit (such as a nation)

… municipal legislation … enacted for the fulfillment of the treaties …

—U.S. Stat. 750

2

a

: of, relating to, or characteristic of a municipality

municipal government

municipal water supplies

municipal elections

municipal courts

a municipal building

a municipal library

b

: having local self-government

3

: restricted to one locality

… a new very municipal variety of dwarf sweet pea …

—Osbert Sitwell

municipal

2 of 2

noun

: a security issued by a state or local government or by an authority set up by such a government

—usually used in plural

Examples of municipal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Other local concerns, such as the effect on property values or municipal tax tolls, are not part of the council’s evaluation criteria. —John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026

Chicago’s municipal pension funds — covering employees, police and fire — are now only 25% funded. —Terry Savage, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026

Noun

In fact, Dan Close, head of municipals at Nuveen, believes the muni bond rally could be in early stages. —Michelle Fox, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026

The Fed buys bonds – Treasury notes, corporate debt, and even, at times, municipals – to prop up the economy during times of crisis, like the 2020 pandemic lockdowns. —Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Latin municipalis of a municipality, from municip-, municeps inhabitant of a municipality, from munus duty, service + capere to take — more at mean, heave entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1925, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing municipal

• municipal borough
• municipal court

Kids Definition

municipal

adjective

mu·​nic·​i·​pal

myu̇-ˈnis-(ə-)pəl

: of or relating to a municipality

municipal government

Legal Definition

municipal

1 of 2 adjective

mu·​nic·​i·​pal myu̇-ˈni-sə-pəl 

1

: of or relating to the internal affairs of a major political unit (as a nation)

was sentenced by a court of municipal, not international, jurisdiction

compare domestic

2

a

: of, relating to, or characteristic of a municipality

the municipal counsel

b

: having local self-government

a municipal district

3

: restricted to one locality

municipal

2 of 2 noun

: a security issued by a state or local government or by an authority set up by such a government

—usually used in pl. see also municipal bond at bond sense 2