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

On the night of the Mason council meeting, Lawrence had to pass on appearing at a simultaneous township council meeting on the opposite side of his district to stand against a different potential project there. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026

The tutoring fee is $70 per student per semester for township residents. — Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026

Bloomfield Township is banning anyone 16 or younger from riding e-bikes and e-scooters on township sidewalks, property or roads for at least the next six months following a summer of safety concerns. — Jack Springgate, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026

The plan for the 20,000-square-foot store at 6310 North Canton Center Road, between Ford and Hanford roads, was approved by the township in 2023. — Laura Colvin, Freep.com, 14 Sep. 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)