municipality

noun

mu·​nic·​i·​pal·​i·​ty myu̇-ˌni-sə-ˈpa-lə-tē How to pronounce municipality (audio)
plural municipalities
Synonyms of municipalitynext
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

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To successfully integrate these returnees, Damascus must empower governorates and municipalities with the resources and autonomy to solve problems pertaining to service delivery, job creation, and education in real time. — Jesse Marks, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026 The landslide and subsequent flood wave have left a path of destruction in Nepal's Rasuwa municipality, home to several hydropower projects and at least one border crossing point approximately 13 miles downstream. — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026 Objectors also focused on the language of the questions and the authority of local municipalities in the two objection filings. — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 On the Kansas side, the amalgamation of several settlements in Wyandotte county precipitated the formation of a unified municipality. — Scott Spires, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for municipality

Word History

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of municipality was in 1790

Rhymes for municipality

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Browse Nearby Words

municipal engineering
municipality
municipalization
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Cite this Entry

“Municipality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/municipality. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

municipality

noun
mu·​nic·​i·​pal·​i·​ty myu̇-ˌnis-ə-ˈpal-ət-ē How to pronounce municipality (audio)
plural municipalities
: a self-governing city or town

Legal Definition

municipality

noun
mu·​nic·​i·​pal·​i·​ty myu̇-ˌni-sə-ˈpa-lə-tē How to pronounce municipality (audio)
plural municipalities
: a primarily urban municipal corporation
also : the governing body of a municipality

More from Merriam-Webster on municipality

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about municipality

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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