township

/ˌtaʊnˈʃɪp/

/ˈtaʊnʃɪp/

Other forms: townships

A township is a community that's smaller or more widely scattered than a city. It would be a huge change to move from a little township in North Dakota to Los Angeles.

The exact definition of township varies widely depending where you are in the world. Even in the U.S., the meaning differs from state to state. Townships are generally geographic areas that are smaller than counties and controlled by local governments. In some cases, several towns make up a township. In others, a township is simply a rural town that's spread out and sparsely populated. The Old English root meant "parish of a hundred."

Definitions of township

1. noun

   an administrative division of a county
   synonyms: town

   type of:

   administrative district, administrative division, territorial division

   a district defined for administrative purposes