noun

municipality

myoo-nis-uh-PAL-uh-tee/mjuːˌnɪsɪˈpæləti/

A town or district with its own local government.

Our municipality has its own elected council and public library.

A compact town with its own council visibly meeting inside its central civic hall.

Etymology

muniLatinpublic duty, service

+cipLatintake, assume

+alLatinrelating to

+ityFrenchstate, condition

The duty-taking roots originally describe a citizen bearing community obligations. Through the term for a self-governing town, they underlie municipality: the town or city possessing those local governing privileges.

In context

Civics Academy SA3:16

at local level each municipality is headed by a mayor elected by the local council the council is the legislative arm of the municipality

What is the Executive?

More examples

Several neighboring municipalities share a fire department.
The municipality approves permits for new construction.
Property taxes vary from one municipality to another.

Forms

municipality · municipalities

municipal adjective — Relating to a town or its government.

Similar words

town: Usually a smaller community; not always independently governed.
district: An area defined for administration, not necessarily with self-government.