county
1 of 2noun (1)
coun·ty ˈkau̇n-tē 
plural counties
1
: the domain of a count
2
a
: one of the territorial divisions of England and Wales and formerly also of Scotland and Northern Ireland constituting the chief units for administrative, judicial, and political purposes
b(1)
: the people of a county
(2)
British : the gentry of a county
3
: the largest territorial division for local government within a state of the U.S.
4
: the largest local administrative unit in various countries
county adjective
county
2 of 2noun (2)
plural counties
archaic
: count entry 3
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English counte, from Anglo-French cunté, counté, from Medieval Latin comitatus, from Late Latin, office of a count, from comit-, comes count — more at count
Noun (2)
modification of Middle French comte
First Known Use
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
1539, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing county
Kids Definition
county
noun
coun·ty ˈkau̇n-tē
plural counties
: a division of a state or country for local government