township

noun

town·​ship ˈtau̇n-ˌship 

1

a

: town sense 5

b

: a unit of local government in some northeastern and north central states usually having a chief administrative officer or board

c

: an unorganized subdivision of the county in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont

d

: an electoral and administrative district of the county in the southern U.S.

2

: a division of territory in surveys of U.S. public land containing 36 sections or 36 square miles

3

: an area in the Republic of South Africa that was segregated under apartheid for occupation by persons of non-European descent

4

: an ancient unit of administration in England identical in area with or a division of a parish

Examples of township in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The family travelled to Ohio and Zoley grew up in the small township of Copley, a 15-minute drive from Akron. —Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 26 Sep. 2025

At least 17 people were confirmed dead in Taiwan, the National Fire Agency said Wednesday — all in eastern Hualien County, where floodwater from a barrier lake surged into Guangfu township. —Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 24 Sep. 2025

Other taxing authorities that contribute to property tax bills include local school districts and cities or townships. —Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 23 Sep. 2025

Under such contracts, local cities and townships get a slightly lower rate than the standard service rate for a year or more. —Alexander Coolidge, Cincinnati Enquirer, 23 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Kids Definition

township

noun

town·​ship ˈtau̇n-ˌship 

1

: a unit of local government in some northeastern and north central states

2

: a division of territory in surveys of U.S. public land containing 36 square miles (about 93 square kilometers)