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

Sanctuary cities in the U.S. are municipalities that have adopted policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, particularly U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (). —Martha McHardy, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024

Why are municipalities turning to operating referendums? —Bridget Fogarty, Journal Sentinel, 5 Dec. 2024

Gilbert is the fourth largest municipality in metro Phoenix with a population larger than Salt Lake City and St. Louis. —Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 5 Dec. 2024

It’s raised more than $9 million so far and signed up over 200 municipalities as customers. —Alan Ohnsman, Forbes, 3 Dec. 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