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 2023 rate was about 58%, the third-lowest of any suburban municipality, meaning the city fell $24 million short of target. — A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026

Meanwhile, the electoral council, known as the CEP, still lacked access to voting centers in at least 23 municipalities in three regions where deadly armed groups continue to control large swaths of territory. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2026

The Hague municipality banned the march after violence broke out among demonstrators gathered at the Malieveld, a park in the city center, and later ordered the crowd to disperse. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026

The August letter from Gardner, Fulton and Harper says the agencies have consulted with other municipalities and first responders across North America, are running models and are using data and medical expertise to develop the future system. — Brian Maass, CBS News, 18 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