municipality

noun

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

plural municipalities

1

: a primarily urban political unit (such as a city or town) 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 of municipality

• city
• town
• metropolis

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

The recognition is bestowed by the municipality of the late maestro’s hometown of Rimini in tandem with the country’s prestigious Cineteca Di Bologna. —Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026

When municipalities slashed their budgets during the financial crisis, the funding that supported such teams in many cases dried up. —Editorial, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2026

According to a presentation by associate planner Kyle Rathbone, in 2023 there were at least 221 people experiencing homelessness across the five West Valley municipalities. —Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2026

The Israel Defense Forces carried out the operation in Lebanon's Bint Jbeil municipality. —Anders Hagstrom , Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2026

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