Origin: Latin suffix -al
Municipal has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
A financial instrument issued by a municipality.
"The city council approved the issuance of new municipal bonds to fund the construction of the library."
In plain English: Municipal refers to something that belongs to or is managed by a local city or town government.
"The city council approved the municipal budget for next year."
Usage: Municipal is primarily an adjective, so it should not be used as a standalone noun to refer to a city or town. When referring to the bond itself, use the term municipal bond rather than municipal alone.
relating or belonging to or characteristic of a municipality
"municipal government"
"municipal bonds"
"a municipal park"
"municipal transportation"
of or relating to the government of a municipality
"international law...only authorizes a belligerent to punish a spy under its municipal law"
Of or pertaining to a municipality (a city or a corporation having the right of administering local government).
"The municipal council voted to increase property taxes for the upcoming fiscal year."
In plain English: Municipal means something that belongs to or is run by a local city or town government.
"The municipal council voted to raise taxes for the new park project."
Usage: Use municipal to describe services, laws, or taxes that are provided by or controlled by a local city government rather than a national authority. It applies specifically to public functions like water systems, waste collection, and zoning within a specific town or city.
The word municipal comes from the French term for "belonging to a citizen or a free town." It entered English via Latin, originally describing something related to the duties taken on by inhabitants of such towns.