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

But returns showed a lack of support for Measure K, which proposed Orange transition from a general law city to a charter city — a municipality governed by its own charter, or local constitution, and with some leeway to diverge from state laws. — Victoria Le, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2026

Wells-Mann said The Southland Creative Spotlight does not just promote original content but also aims to bring different south suburban municipalities together through artistry. — Elena Tittel, Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026

Broward’s tiniest municipality, Lazy Lake, is missing from the list. — Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2026

The proximity of the two municipalities means some people work in one and live in the other — as is the case for Tom Mullane, a Brewster social studies teacher and Danbury resident. — Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 6 Nov. 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