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

Among other things, the system looks at minimum lot size and minimum or maximum density setbacks, which differ by municipality and zone. —Diana Olick, CNBC, 14 Nov. 2025

Unearthed in southern Brazil Dr Müller and his team uncovered the fossils in May 2025 during a dig in the municipality of Dona Francisca in southern Brazil. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 13 Nov. 2025

But, right now, municipalities have to take action to make the most of the victory. —MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025

Reuters notes that Turkish and Georgian authorities have started inspections at the site, located in the Sighnaghu municipality of Georgia's Kakheti district. —Clare Fisher, PEOPLE, 12 Nov. 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