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
U.S. Stat. 7502
a
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a municipality
municipal government
municipal water supplies
municipal elections
municipal courts
b
: having local self-government
3
: restricted to one locality
a new very municipal variety of dwarf sweet pea—Osbert Sitwell
Osbert Sitwell
: a security issued by a state or local government or by an authority set up by such a government
—usually used in plural
Examples of municipal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Hank Beckman, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025
According to Kansas City’s municipal code on impounding a dog who has bitten someone, the dog — if already deemed dangerous through the court process— should be immediately impounded and euthanized humanely.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2025
Michelle Fox, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2025
Dan Close, head of municipals at Nuveen, said the sector is currently in a seasonally weak period due to its retail-heavy investor base filing tax returns.
—Jesse Pound, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for municipal
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Adjective
In other business, the board addressed a potential budget shortfall by approving a municipal grocery sales tax of one percent.
—Hank Beckman, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025
According to Kansas City’s municipal code on impounding a dog who has bitten someone, the dog — if already deemed dangerous through the court process— should be immediately impounded and euthanized humanely.
—Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2025
Noun
Dan Close, head of municipals at Nuveen, chalked the dismal performance to a number of things happening in the market, including a lot of supply and people selling the bonds to pay taxes.
—Michelle Fox, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2025
Dan Close, head of municipals at Nuveen, said the sector is currently in a seasonally weak period due to its retail-heavy investor base filing tax returns.
—Jesse Pound, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for municipal
Cite this Entry
“Municipal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/municipal. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal 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
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