municipality

noun

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

plural municipalities

1

: a primarily urban political unit 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

• asphalt jungle
• burg
• city
• cosmopolis
• megacity
• megalopolis
• metropolis
• town

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

Though the county may also do the work on the water mains and related tasks — Rozwadowski said it is being negotiated — the municipalities will be paying for it. —Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025

In a Facebook post shared on Sunday, May 18, the Constitutional City Council of San Mateo del Mar, a coastal town and municipality in Oaxaca, Mexico, announced the death of Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos. —David Chiu, People.com, 19 May 2025

And while the courts originally said transfer tax revenue must go into a municipality’s general fund, special taxes under Upland can be exclusively directed to whatever the local government, or special interest group, wants. —Jon Coupal, Oc Register, 19 May 2025

The footage of a family being torn apart is disturbing to watch but the municipality cannot interfere in or prevent a federal detainment. —Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025

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