# district

/ˈdɪstɹɪkt/ (US) · /dˈɪstɹɪkt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/district
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. administrative area

noun · CEFR B1

an area of a country or city that has its own local government or services.

For teachers: a defined administrative division of a territory, often established for electoral, judicial, or municipal purposes.

- The school district decided to build a new library for the local students.
- The city council voted to redraw the boundaries of the business district to encourage further commercial investment in the suburbs.

### 2. area with a special feature

noun · CEFR B1

a part of a town or country that is known for a particular activity or look.

For teachers: a region or locality distinguished by a particular characteristic, industry, or social quality.

- We spent the afternoon walking through the historic theatre district.
- The warehouse district has recently undergone a transformation into a trendy residential area filled with art galleries and lofts.

### 3. mining area

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a specific section of a mine where workers are digging for coal or minerals.

For teachers: a specific, designated area of a mine or coalface where particular seams are actively worked.

- The miners were moved to a different district because the current seam was exhausted.
- Safety inspectors closed the western district of the mine following reports of structural instability in the primary coal seam.

### 4. Washington D.C.

noun · CEFR B2 · American English · Informal

a short name for the District of Columbia, the capital of the United States.

For teachers: A proper noun usage referring specifically to the District of Columbia.

- He moved to the District last year to start his new job at the State Department.
- Commuters from Virginia and Maryland flood into the District every morning, doubling its daytime population.

### 5. to divide into areas

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to divide a large area into smaller parts for government or planning.

For teachers: To divide a territory into administrative or functional sectors. Transitive use.

- The province was districted to make it easier to manage the local elections.
- The legislature struggled to agree on how to district the state without appearing to favour one political party over another.

## Examples

- The business district is very busy on Monday mornings.
- The city council decided to build a new park in the historic district to attract more tourists to the area.
- Urban planners are currently debating whether to rezone the industrial district for residential use to address the growing housing shortage in the city center.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.