municipality

noun

mu·​nic·​i·​pal·​i·​ty myu̇-ˌni-sə-ˈpa-lə-tē 

plural municipalities

1

: a primarily urban political unit (such as a city or town) 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 of municipality

• city
• town
• metropolis

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

Then, after regional governments decide how much of the responsibility falls on each municipality, local governments incorporate the goals into their own plans. —Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 8 May 2026

The American Planning Association notes that municipalities nationwide continue updating zoning policies to allow them. —Zakkiyyah Terrell White, USA Today, 8 May 2026

Residents and business owners with wells and irrigation ponds should contact their municipality to request a free well water irrigation sign to display on their property, officials said. —Joe Marusak may 8, Charlotte Observer, 8 May 2026

District Four is already surrounded by municipalities such as Lemon Grove, National City and Chula Vista, all of which have higher sales tax rates. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026

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