What does "county" mean?
The land ruled by a count or a countess.
County
/ˈkaʊnti/ adj, noun, slang
adj, noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The land ruled by a count or a countess.
- Grammar: county is listed as adj, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: administrative division, allegheny, ally, appomattox.
- Useful contrasts: boroughs, city, federal government.
- Usage evidence: These smaller parts are called counties, and each county has a county council, like Westhamptonshire County Council.
How to use "county"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "county" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "county" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "county" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "county" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "county" is acting as adj, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "administrative division" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "county", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The land ruled by a count or a countess. countable, historical, uncountable
"The first of the principalities of the Low Countries to take clear shape was the county of Flanders."
- 2 (United Kingdom) a region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government wordnet
- 3 An administrative or geographical region of various countries, including Bhutan, Canada, China, Croatia, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, South Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and 47 of the 50 United States (excluding Alaska, Connecticut, and Louisiana). countable, uncountable
"Entire states such as California, Illinois and New York are now sanctuaries, as well as major cities and counties such as Fairfax, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties and the District of Columbia in the capital region, according to the list. […] FAIR says the county is a sanctuary because it tells police not to ask about immigration status even during an arrest."
- 4 (United States) the largest administrative district within a state wordnet
- 5 A definitive geographic region, without direct administrative functions. countable, uncountable
"traditional county"
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A jail operated by a county government. US, slang, uncountable
"He can't come; he's up in the county for agg assault."
Adjective
- 1 Characteristic of a ‘county family’; representative of the gentry or aristocracy of a county.
"Now, in the district around Chipping Carby, the County Families are very County indeed, few more so."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"These smaller parts are called counties, and each county has a county council, like Westhamptonshire County Council."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "county"?
Common synonyms include: administrative division, allegheny, ally, appomattox, archbishopric, archdiocese.
How do you use "county" in a sentence?
These smaller parts are called counties, and each county has a county council, like Westhamptonshire County Council.
How do you pronounce "county"?
Pronounced /ˈkaʊnti/.
Etymology
From Middle English countee, counte, conte, from Anglo-Norman counté, Old French conté (French comté), from Latin comitātus (“jurisdiction of a count”), from comes (“count, earl”). Cognate with Spanish condado (“county”) and Italian contea (“county”). Doublet of comitatus, borrowed directly from Latin. Mostly displaced native Old English sċīr, whence Modern English shire.