1
a
: a compactly settled area usually larger than a village but smaller than a city
b
: a compactly settled area as distinguished from surrounding rural territory
c
: a large densely populated urban area : city
d
: an English village having a periodic fair or market
2
: a particular town or city under consideration
the circus came to town
3
: the city or urban life as contrasted with the country
4
a
: the inhabitants of a city or town
practically the whole town turned out for the parade
b
: the townspeople of a college or university town as distinct from the academic community
relations between town and gown
5
: a New England territorial and political unit usually containing under a single town government both rural areas and urban areas not having their own charter of incorporation
also : a New England community governed by a town meeting
6
dialectal, England : a cluster or aggregation of houses recognized as a distinct place with a place-name : hamlet
7
: a group of prairie dog burrows
town adjective
Phrases
on the town
: in usually carefree pursuit of entertainment or amusement (such as city nightlife) especially as a relief from routine

Examples of town in a Sentence

the town of Jackson, Florida The nearest shopping mall is two towns away. The town plans to increase property taxes. We're heading to town later on.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The occupational breakdown for Chena Ridge makes sense for a high-income town, with Management Occupations accounting for a fifth of the workforce, according to Data USA. Andrew Depietro, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025 That reality was tragically underscored over the weekend when four women were killed by a ballistic missile that scored a direct hit on their home in the predominantly Arab town of Tamra, just north of Haifa. Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2025 Over the next hundred years, groups — many starting at the local level — catalyzed radical change for the better in our country, leading to voter enfranchisement, civil rights, greater equality for the marginalized, and vast civic improvements across towns, cities and governments. Anastasia G McAteer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 June 2025 In a rare scheduling quirk in the middle of June, the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers were both in town for the first time this season, playing on opposite sides of town. Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for town

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English tūn enclosure, village, town; akin to Old High German zūn enclosure, Old Irish dún fortress

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 6

Time Traveler
The first known use of town was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Town.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/town. Accessed 27 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

town

noun
1
a
: a compactly settled area that is usually larger than a village but smaller than a city
2
: the people of a town
town adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on town

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!