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

While Chicago, Calumet City and other Illinois municipalities passed laws years ago, recent immigration enforcement has revamped discussion and some controversy around these policies in Naperville, Elgin, La Grange and Skokie. — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026

Coral Springs and other municipalities plan to proceed with their own education and enforcement campaigns in the absence of state-level guidance. — Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 26 June 2026

When discretionary permitting authority sits at the local level, projects face different (and often changing) rules, timelines, and political dynamics in every county or municipality. — Tom Bitting, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026

This landmark measure compels our counties and municipalities to remain politically responsive to the people who live there. — Anthony G. Brown, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 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