Word
municipal
Phoneticsmu·nic·i·pal, stress on the second syllable
US/mjuˈnɪsəpəɫ/
UK/mjuːnˈɪsɪpəl/
Definitions
01city government
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. belonging to or run by the local government of a city or town.
adj. relating to a municipality or its local self-government.
“The municipal library is closed on Mondays for cleaning.”
“The municipal council voted to increase funding for public parks and recreational facilities to improve the quality of life for local residents.”
Usage
Usually placed before the noun.
02financial bond
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Finance Technical
n. a type of investment or bond issued by a city government.
n. A debt security issued by a state, municipality, or county to finance its capital expenditures.
“Many people invest in municipals because they can offer tax benefits.”
“The investor's portfolio was heavily weighted toward municipals, providing a steady stream of tax-exempt income while supporting local infrastructure projects.”
Usage
Often used in the plural form 'municipals'.
Synonyms
03internal national law
C2 · Proficiency Law Formal · Technical
adj. relating to the internal laws or affairs of a single country.
adj. Pertaining to the internal affairs of a state or nation as opposed to international relations.
“The court had to decide if the treaty was part of municipal law.”
“The professor argued that international human rights standards must be integrated into municipal law to be truly effective within the country's borders.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “municipal” in context.
Verb
01. oversee municipal affairs
“A special committee was appointed to oversee municipal affairs during the transition.”
verb + adj + noun
02. provide municipal services
“The tax increase will help the city provide better municipal services to outlying districts.”
verb + adj + noun
Adjective
03. municipal bonds
“The council decided to issue municipal bonds to fund the construction of the new library.”
adj + noun
04. municipal elections
“Voter turnout for the municipal elections was significantly lower than for the national vote.”
adj + noun
05. municipal waste
“The city is investing in a new facility to process municipal waste more efficiently.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. municipal planning department
“You need to submit your renovation blueprints to the municipal planning department.”
adj + noun + noun
07. municipal swimming pool
“Local residents can get a discount at the municipal swimming pool.”
adj + noun + noun
Real-World Examples
“Mayor Suleiman Khourieh estimates roughly seven settler outposts now surround the town – four or five, by his count, sitting directly on Taybeh’s municipal land.” “But before they could leave Iguala, in Guerrero state, the students were attacked by a local criminal gang working with municipal police.” “An all-out municipal effort has reduced cases and may offer lessons to American cities.” Etymology
Borrowed from French municipal, from Latin mūnicipālis (“of or belonging to a citizen or a free town”), from mūniceps (“a citizen, an inhabitant of a free town”), from mūnus (“duty”) + capiō (“to take”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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