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

Depending on the municipality, polling places in Vermont can open between 5 and 10 a.m. —Liam Quinn, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024

Different municipalities allow some noncitizens, such as permanent residents, to vote on local issues. —Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024

From 1996 through 2020, no Democratic candidate won even a single municipality, town, or city in these three counties. —Annabella Rosciglione, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 24 Oct. 2024

While no state constitution in the U.S. currently allows noncitizens to vote, certain cities and municipalities in three states, as well as Washington, D.C., have allowed noncitizens to vote in some local elections. —Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 22 Oct. 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