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.

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.
In spring, cut the tree up and dispose of it through your municipality’s landscape waste disposal program. Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026 The government ordered the immediate deployment of the Command for the Comprehensive Defense of the Nation, along with regional defense entities in all states and municipalities. Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2026 Since 2005, the BDS movement has urged banks, municipalities, pension funds, religious groups and universities to remove their investments from Israel, according to the BDS website. Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026 Tipping fees, or the cost charged to municipalities to move waste out of the state, are increasing year after year causing financial burdens on towns, according to DEEP. Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Jan. 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

Cite this Entry

“Municipality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/municipality. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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