1
b
: a unit of local government in some northeastern and north central states usually having a chief administrative officer or board
c
: an unorganized subdivision of the county in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont
d
: an electoral and administrative district of the county in the southern U.S.
2
: a division of territory in surveys of U.S. public land containing 36 sections or 36 square miles
3
: an area in the Republic of South Africa that was segregated under apartheid for occupation by persons of non-European descent
4
: an ancient unit of administration in England identical in area with or a division of a parish

Examples of township in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Written by Enzo Mileti & Scott Wilson, the film follows two Chicago cops-turned-contractors who track a runaway thief to a remote and fortified township in Sacrament, UT. — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 26 Oct. 2026 With nearly 60 murders per day, South Africa has one of the world's highest crime rates, and several of Cape Town's townships are among the areas hardest hit by violent crime. — Julie Bourdin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026 There are more than ten thousand voting jurisdictions in the United States, ranging from townships to states. — Barton Gellman, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026 Meanwhile, Mallory is already looking for someone who'd be willing to run for township clerk in 2028. — CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for township

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Time Traveler
The first known use of township was in the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Township.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/township. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

1
: a unit of local government in some northeastern and north central states
2
: a division of territory in surveys of U.S. public land containing 36 square miles (about 93 square kilometers)

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