local government

noun

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

Definition of local government

: the government of a specific local area constituting a subdivision of a major political unit (such as a nation or state); also : the body of persons constituting such a government

See local government defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of local government from the Web

The new Unmanned Aircraft System Integration Pilot Program is designed to allow state and local governments, working with private companies, more leeway to run experiments over the next few years.

— jack stewart, WIRED, "The World’s Fastest Drones Want to Save Lives in America, Too," 3 Apr. 2018
Polster is presiding over hundreds of lawsuits filed by local governments across the country, including Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and many other governments in the state.

— eric heisig, cleveland.com, "Justice Department wants to help with settlement talks in opioid litigation," 2 Apr. 2018
House Bill 661, which Rep. Ted James, D-Baton Rouge, has sponsored, would allow drug users to turn in used needles and get clean ones without first getting permission from the local government, which is currently required.

— julia o'donoghue, NOLA.com, "Needle exchanges for drug users could go statewide in Louisiana," 28 Mar. 2018
Per Zaitz' report, Sheela attempted to turn Rancho Rajneesh into its very own city, but was met with intense pushback from the local government, environmental group, and even citizens intolerant of this new organization.

— refinery29.com, "The True Story Behind The "Sex Cult" In Netflix's Wild Wild Country," 20 Mar. 2018
Broward, like many other local governments across the country, is suing or considering suing the companies because of the large costs incurred as the opioid epidemic taxes local police and emergency medical services.

— larry barszewski, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Broward sues over opioids, including Walmart, Walgreens and CVS," 15 Mar. 2018
The poster was created in response to the Fugitive Slave Act, the 1850 federal law that compelled local governments, even in free states like Massachusetts, to arrest runaway slaves and return them to their masters.

— john hanc, New York Times, "Using Art to Help the Police Understand Racism," 9 Mar. 2018
Caltrans also has begun reaching out to local governments, private contractors and utility companies to coordinate efforts where possible, Berman said.

— tony bizjak and adam ashton, sacbee, "Spend gas tax money ASAP, new Caltrans leader says of directive from Gov. Jerry Brown | The Sacramento Bee," 1 Mar. 2018
Most are affiliated with a local government, if not part of the municipality itself.

— gregory tejeda, Post-Tribune, "Gary's Aetna neighborhood gets revitalization ball rolling," 23 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'local government.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.