mu·nic·i·pal
myu̇-ˈni-s(ə-)pəl 
also myə-,
mə-,
-ˈni-sə-bəl,
nonstandard ˌmyü-nə-ˈsi-pəl
1
: of or relating to the internal affairs of a major political unit (such as a nation)
municipal legislation … enacted for the fulfillment of the treaties—
U.S. Stat. 750
U.S. Stat. 7502
a
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a municipality
municipal government
municipal water supplies
municipal elections
municipal courts
b
: having local self-government
3
: restricted to one locality
a new very municipal variety of dwarf sweet pea—Osbert Sitwell
Osbert Sitwell
: a security issued by a state or local government or by an authority set up by such a government
—usually used in plural
Examples of municipal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebMike Schneider, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2024
The court also delivered judgments on two other claims, one brought by a municipal mayor against the French government and a third, the largest and highest-profile, by six young people in Portugal against 32 European countries.
—Laura Paddison, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
This still makes for the largest municipal sanitation force in the country.
—Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
In Vermont — which was bracing for some 160,000 visitors — municipal garages in Burlington were full by 11 a.m. ET, more than four hours ahead of totality.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 8 Apr. 2024
Tucson resident Carina Bien-Willner said municipal governments don't decide how federal tax dollars are spent overseas.
—Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 8 Apr. 2024
The municipal park in Eagle Pass, Texas, has been transformed in recent months in an escalation of Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, a border security effort now 3 years old.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Apr. 2024
Instead, residents should dispose of these items at a municipal drop-off center or e-recycling site.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024
The resident received a summons for a municipal charge of discharge of a firearm, and the landlord was issued a summons for a municipal charge of theft.
—Andrea Klick, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2024
Chris Gunster, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
The pair meet again when the young woman, infuriated by the municipal’s neglect, runs against Pierre in the next mayoral election.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Sep. 2023
Daniel Close, who currently leads Nuveen's taxable municipal bond arm, will become head of municipals.
—Heather Gillers, WSJ, 10 Apr. 2023
Several rounds of federal stimulus and infrastructure legislation have helped state and local governments, even those with more strained budgets, improve to the best financial shape in years, Dan Close, head of municipals at Nuveen, said last week.
—Shruti Singh, Bloomberg.com, 4 May 2023
Here’s an in-depth look at voter turnout data for the election, including turnout compared to past municipals, turnout levels across the city and what age groups showed up at the highest rates.
—Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2023
Redistricting is the process of redrawing the boundaries of districts from the local municipal to congressional levels, which happens every 10 years using the latest census data.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Nov. 2021
That is partly due to the fact that municipal and county achievements are often collective efforts and that Ciattarelli was in the minority in the Legislature.
—Dustin Racioppi, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2021
Though city commissioners opted not to take action against the Chamber’s headquarters, its unclear how the city’s municipal and business leaders will patch up their rift.
—Lisa Maria Garza, orlandosentinel.com, 19 Feb. 2021
Adjective
The district provides municipal services such as firefighting, planning and mosquito control, among other things, and was controlled by Disney supporters for most of its five decades until the DeSantis appointees took it over last year.
—Mike Schneider, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2024
The court also delivered judgments on two other claims, one brought by a municipal mayor against the French government and a third, the largest and highest-profile, by six young people in Portugal against 32 European countries.
—Laura Paddison, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
This still makes for the largest municipal sanitation force in the country.
—Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
In Vermont — which was bracing for some 160,000 visitors — municipal garages in Burlington were full by 11 a.m. ET, more than four hours ahead of totality.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 8 Apr. 2024
Tucson resident Carina Bien-Willner said municipal governments don't decide how federal tax dollars are spent overseas.
—Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 8 Apr. 2024
The municipal park in Eagle Pass, Texas, has been transformed in recent months in an escalation of Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, a border security effort now 3 years old.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Apr. 2024
Instead, residents should dispose of these items at a municipal drop-off center or e-recycling site.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024
The resident received a summons for a municipal charge of discharge of a firearm, and the landlord was issued a summons for a municipal charge of theft.
—Andrea Klick, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2024
Noun
In addition to considering Treasury bonds as an alternative to municipals, investors in the highest income tax brackets should also consider corporate bonds.
—Chris Gunster, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
The pair meet again when the young woman, infuriated by the municipal’s neglect, runs against Pierre in the next mayoral election.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Sep. 2023
Daniel Close, who currently leads Nuveen's taxable municipal bond arm, will become head of municipals.
—Heather Gillers, WSJ, 10 Apr. 2023
Several rounds of federal stimulus and infrastructure legislation have helped state and local governments, even those with more strained budgets, improve to the best financial shape in years, Dan Close, head of municipals at Nuveen, said last week.
—Shruti Singh, Bloomberg.com, 4 May 2023
Here’s an in-depth look at voter turnout data for the election, including turnout compared to past municipals, turnout levels across the city and what age groups showed up at the highest rates.
—Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2023
Redistricting is the process of redrawing the boundaries of districts from the local municipal to congressional levels, which happens every 10 years using the latest census data.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Nov. 2021
That is partly due to the fact that municipal and county achievements are often collective efforts and that Ciattarelli was in the minority in the Legislature.
—Dustin Racioppi, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2021
Though city commissioners opted not to take action against the Chamber’s headquarters, its unclear how the city’s municipal and business leaders will patch up their rift.
—Lisa Maria Garza, orlandosentinel.com, 19 Feb. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'municipal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Noun
Latin municipalis of a municipality, from municip-, municeps inhabitant of a municipality, from munus duty, service + capere to take — more at mean, heave entry 1
Phrases Containing municipal
Dictionary Entries Near municipal
Cite this Entry
“Municipal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/municipal. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
municipal
adjective
mu·nic·i·pal
myu̇-ˈnis-(ə-)pəl
: of or relating to a municipality
municipal government
Legal Definition
municipal
1 of 2 adjective
mu·nic·i·pal
myu̇-ˈni-sə-pəl
1
: of or relating to the internal affairs of a major political unit (as a nation)
was sentenced by a court of municipal, not international, jurisdiction
compare domestic
2
a
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a municipality
the municipal counsel
b
: having local self-government
a municipal district
3
: restricted to one locality
municipal
2 of 2 noun
: a security issued by a state or local government or by an authority set up by such a government
—usually used in pl.
see also municipal bond at bond sense 2
More from Merriam-Webster on municipal
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for municipal
Nglish: Translation of municipal for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of municipal for Arabic Speakers
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