a county of central England: agriculture, food processing, engineering, and footwear industries. Administrative centre: Northampton. Pop: 642 700 (2003 est). Area: 2367 sq km (914 sq miles)
Abbreviation: Northants
Northamptonshire in American English
(northæmptonˌʃɪr; northæmptonʃər)
county in central England: 914 sq mi (2,367 sq km); pop. 579,000; county seat, Northampton