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

Crews from Upper Darby Township were joined by firefighters from surrounding municipalities, as well as Delaware County emergency services. —Eva Andersen, CBS News, 20 Dec. 2025

The vote greenlights consultants at McMahon Associates, who have been studying how dispatch currently works in both municipalities, to determine the best path forward for the dispatch process. —Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 19 Dec. 2025

The rabbis sentiments about light were echoed throughout the county this week as various municipalities hosted menorah lighting ceremonies to mark the Jewish holiday. —Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025

Many communities are beginning to resist when data centers pop up on a local municipality's agenda. —Evan Frank, Louisville Courier Journal, 17 Dec. 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