town hall

noun

1

: a public building used for town-government offices and meetings

2

: an event at which a public official or political candidate addresses an audience by answering questions posed by individual members

Town halls have lost some of their spontaneity. The 80 or so undecided voters chosen for Tuesday's event must submit their questions in advance and moderator Candy Crowley of CNN will decide which people to call on.

—Connie Cass

Examples of town hall in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Host town hall meetings aimed to educate and mobilize residents in east and central Miramar, in addition to the ones hosted in west Miramar, to increase ease of access to attend meetings. —Kerri-Ann Nesbeth, Sun Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2025

In a subsequent town hall meeting with the director of the agency Wednesday, staff members did not get much clarity on whether people who accept the offer would receive the benefits and pensions to which they’re entitled. —Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 6 Feb. 2025

City officials will hold a town hall meeting at 7pm on Wednesday to answer residents' questions and share resources. —Isaac Avilucea, Axios, 5 Feb. 2025

The city will host a town hall meeting for residents of the area Wednesday evening, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. —John Bacon, USA TODAY, 2 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

town hall

noun

: a public building used for offices and meetings of town government