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

Village Manager John Lockerby added that Skokie is one of more than 350 municipalities in Illinois that uses ALPR technology to help officers solve crimes. — Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026

In many towns and cities, homeowners are expected to mow, edge, and maintain the grassy strip adjacent to their property, even if the land technically belongs to the municipality as part of the public right-of-way. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2026

Unless the project was revived, the provision would force those municipalities to repay what the North Carolina Department of Transportation already spent on project. — Dj Simmons, Charlotte Observer, 24 Sep. 2026

Of roughly 482 municipalities in California, approximately 112 are charter cities, according to data from the state’s Department of Finance and the League of California Cities. — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 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