Main Entry: town·ship

Pronunciation: \ˈtau̇n-ˌship\

Function: noun

Date: 12th century

1 : an ancient unit of administration in England identical in area with or a division of a parish
2 a : town 6 b : a unit of local government in some northeastern and north central states usually having a chief administrative officer or board c : an unorganized subdivision of the county in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont d : an electoral and administrative district of the county in the southern United States
3 : a division of territory in surveys of United States public land containing 36 sections or 36 square miles
4 : an area in the Republic of South Africa segregated for occupation by persons of non-European descent