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noun Common

municipality

myuu-nih-sih-PA-lih-tee

Municipality (noun) means a city, town, or other district that has its own local government. Example: “The municipality is responsible for garbage collection and road repairs.”

noun
1
A city, town, or other district that has its own local government.
"The municipality is responsible for garbage collection and road repairs."
"Several small municipalities merged to save on administrative costs."
2
The local government body of such a district.
"The municipality approved funding for a new park."

How to Use Municipality

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA self-governing town, city, or district — or the government that runs it.

Common pairings
local municipality municipality council neighboring municipality

Word Forms

municipalities plural

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Test yourself on “municipality” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ is responsible for garbage collection and road repairs.

Etymology

From French municipalité, built on Latin municipium ("free town"), from municeps ("citizen of a free town") — from mūnus ("duty") + capiō ("to take").

Origin: Latin

Related Words

Rhymes for municipality

See all rhymes for municipality →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “municipality” mean?

The word “municipality” means a city, town, or other district that has its own local government. In plain terms, a self-governing town, city, or district — or the government that runs it.

How do you pronounce “municipality”?

“Municipality” is pronounced myuu-nih-sih-PA-lih-tee (/mjʊˌnɪsɪˈpælɪti/ in IPA).

How do you use “municipality” in a sentence?

Here is “municipality” used in a sentence: “The municipality is responsible for garbage collection and road repairs.”

What part of speech is “municipality”?

“Municipality” is a noun.

Where does the word “municipality” come from?

The word “municipality” comes from Latin. From French municipalité, built on Latin municipium ("free town"), from municeps ("citizen of a free town") — from mūnus ("duty") + capiō ("to take").

Is “municipality” a common word?

“Municipality” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “municipality” have?

“Municipality” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a city, town, or other district that has its own local government.

What is the difference between a municipality and a city?

A municipality is any city, town, or district that has its own local government, so a city is typically one type of municipality rather than a separate category. The term municipality emphasises the administrative structure rather than the size or status of the place.

Does municipality refer to a place or a government body?

Municipality can refer to both: it may describe the geographic district itself, such as a town or city, or the local government body that administers that district. Context usually makes clear which sense is meant.

What kinds of places count as municipalities?

Municipalities can include cities, towns, and other districts, as long as they have their own local government. The exact size or legal status can vary between countries and regions.

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