ENGLISH
REFERENCE

counties

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈkaʊniz// UK //kˈaʊntɪz// coun·ties

n. the largest areas that a country is divided into for local government. Each area usually has its own local services like schools and police.

n. the primary administrative or political subdivisions of a country, particularly in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States. Often used to define geographical regions for local governance and judicial purposes.


SIMPLE

The state is divided into several small counties.

CONTEXTUAL

Voters across all twenty counties participated in the local elections to choose new representatives.

COMPLEX

The historical boundaries of the English counties often differ from modern administrative lines, reflecting centuries of shifting political power and land ownership.

Synonyms
Usage

Plural form of 'county'. In the US, it refers to a level of government below the state; in the UK, it refers to traditional regional divisions.

© 2026 English Reference