town hall

noun

1

: a public building used for town-government offices and meetings

2

: an event at which a public official or political candidate addresses an audience by answering questions posed by individual members

Town halls have lost some of their spontaneity. The 80 or so undecided voters chosen for Tuesday's event must submit their questions in advance and moderator Candy Crowley of CNN will decide which people to call on.

—Connie Cass

Examples of town hall in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Bill Gates just this week, the founder of Microsoft was giving a town hall to his family's Gates Foundation and was asked about his relationship with Epstein. —Zulekha Nathoo, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026

This will not be an open town hall where anyone concerned about the city’s housing crisis can speak freely. —Kenny Burgos, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026

Bill Gates also spoke about his relationship with Epstein during a Gates Foundation town hall this week, according to a spokesperson for the nonprofit. —Alex Harring, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2026

The district plans to host a town hall for families next week. —Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for town hall

• aldol
• armhole
• atoll
• awol
• backhaul
• banal
• baseball
• befall
• cabal
• catchall
• cecal
• centrale

Kids Definition

town hall

noun

: a public building used for offices and meetings of town government