township

noun

town·​ship ˈtau̇n-ˌship 

1

a

: town sense 5

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 U.S.

2

: a division of territory in surveys of U.S. public land containing 36 sections or 36 square miles

3

: an area in the Republic of South Africa that was segregated under apartheid for occupation by persons of non-European descent

4

: an ancient unit of administration in England identical in area with or a division of a parish

Examples of township in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Other agencies and teams assisting the township fire department or providing backup included the City of Ypsilanti Fire Department, Superior Township Fire Department and the Pittsfield Township Fire Department. — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026

The township includes nine municipalities and is home to over 90,000 people. — Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026

Politicians campaigning across South Africa have faced complaints about a water crisis affecting impoverished townships and affluent suburbs alike. — ABC News, 1 Nov. 2026

Written by Enzo Mileti & Scott Wilson, the film follows two Chicago cops-turned-contractors who track a runaway thief to a remote and fortified township in Sacrament, UT. — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 26 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Kids Definition

township

noun

town·​ship ˈtau̇n-ˌship 

1

: a unit of local government in some northeastern and north central states

2

: a division of territory in surveys of U.S. public land containing 36 square miles (about 93 square kilometers)