county
n. countablen. a specific area or region that a country is divided into for local government. You usually live in a county that has its own local rules and services.
n. a primary administrative division of a country or state for local government purposes. Often functions as the largest territorial unit for judicial and political administration below the national or state level.
The county built a new library for the local residents.
Voters in this county will decide on a new property tax to fund the local school system next Tuesday.
While the national government sets broad policy, the specific implementation of social services often falls to the county, leading to significant regional variations in quality and accessibility.
From Middle English countee, counte, conte, from Anglo-Norman counté, Old French conté (French comté), from Latin comitātus (“jurisdiction of a count”), from comes (“count, earl”). Cognate with Spanish condado (“county”) and Italian contea (“county”). Doublet of comitatus, borrowed directly from Latin. Mostly displaced native Old English sċīr, whence Modern English shire.
Often used as a modifier before other nouns, such as 'county seat' or 'county fair'.