municipal

1 of 2

adjective

mu·​nic·​i·​pal myu̇-ˈni-s(ə-)pəl 

also myə-, 

mə-, 

-ˈni-sə-bəl

nonstandard ˌmyü-nə-ˈsi-pəl

1

: of or relating to the internal affairs of a major political unit (such as a nation)

… municipal legislation … enacted for the fulfillment of the treaties …

—U.S. Stat. 750

2

a

: of, relating to, or characteristic of a municipality

municipal government

municipal water supplies

municipal elections

municipal courts

a municipal building

a municipal library

b

: having local self-government

3

: restricted to one locality

… a new very municipal variety of dwarf sweet pea …

—Osbert Sitwell

municipal

2 of 2

noun

: a security issued by a state or local government or by an authority set up by such a government

—usually plural

Examples of municipal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In California, municipal utilities face constraints in raising rates under Proposition 218, a ballot initiative passed in 1996 that says fees must reflect the costs of providing service. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Izmir’s municipal assembly remains under the control of a New Party majority. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026

Noun

These days, state and local governments are also issuing them to pay for protection against climate risk, said Dan Close, head of municipals at Nuveen. — Michelle Fox, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2026

The Fed buys bonds – Treasury notes, corporate debt, and even, at times, municipals – to prop up the economy during times of crisis, like the 2020 pandemic lockdowns. — Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Latin municipalis of a municipality, from municip-, municeps inhabitant of a municipality, from munus duty, service + capere to take — more at mean, heave entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1925, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing municipal

• municipal borough
• municipal court

Kids Definition

municipal

adjective

mu·​nic·​i·​pal

myu̇-ˈnis-(ə-)pəl

: of or relating to a municipality

municipal government

Legal Definition

municipal

1 of 2 adjective

mu·​nic·​i·​pal myu̇-ˈni-sə-pəl 

1

: of or relating to the internal affairs of a major political unit (as a nation)

was sentenced by a court of municipal, not international, jurisdiction

compare domestic

2

a

: of, relating to, or characteristic of a municipality

the municipal counsel

b

: having local self-government

a municipal district

3

: restricted to one locality

municipal

2 of 2 noun

: a security issued by a state or local government or by an authority set up by such a government

—usually used in pl. see also municipal bond at bond sense 2