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

So, in Utah, as municipalities now have to figure out how to get fluoride out of the water supply, this new law is just as much an economic issue as a health issue. —Megha Satyanarayana, Scientific American, 4 Apr. 2025

If the municipalities did not comply in the future, Poliakoff feels as though developers will have an easier time prevailing in court with any other lawsuits. —Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2025

All municipalities averaged a C- rating in compliance from 2020. —Courtney Heath, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025

Well, to begin, Bye’s office would conduct a community needs assessment of every municipality across the state. —Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for municipality

• bisexuality
• collegiality
• conditionality
• congeniality
• conventionality
• conviviality
• dimensionality
• directionality
• emotionality
• essentiality
• eventuality
• grammaticality

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