county

The word “county” means an administrative or geographic division within a country or state. In plain terms, a region within a country or state used for local government and administration.

“County” is pronounced KOWN-tee (/ˈkaʊn(t)i/ in IPA).

Here is “county” used in a sentence: “The two towns are located in the same county.”

Words with a similar meaning to “county” include xian.

“County” is a noun.

The word “county” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman counté, from Latin comitātus ("jurisdiction of a count").

“County” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

A country is an independent nation with its own government, like France or Japan. A county is a much smaller administrative division inside a country or state, such as Kent in England or Orange County in the US. The words differ by one letter but describe vastly different scales.

A state is a large political region within a country, while a county is a smaller unit inside a state. In the US, for example, each state is subdivided into counties that handle local matters like courts, roads, and records. Counties sit below states in the hierarchy.

In England, Yorkshire, Kent, and Cornwall are well-known counties. In the United States, Los Angeles County and Cook County are among the largest by population. Each is a defined geographic area with its own local government responsible for services within its boundaries.

Counties are usually run by a local body such as a county council, board, or commission, made up of elected representatives. They often oversee services like roads, schools, policing, and public records within their area. The exact powers vary widely between countries and even between regions.