What does county mean?
A county is a principal territorial division of a country or state, serving as the primary unit of local government over much of the English-speaking world. In the United States, each state is subdivided into counties — there are more than 3,000 nationwide — which handle functions such as law enforcement, courts, property records, and elections. In Britain and Ireland, counties have deeper historical roots as regions once governed on behalf of the Crown, and many retain strong cultural identities even where their administrative roles have changed. The word derives from the Old French 'conté,' meaning the territory administered by a count, a title introduced to England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Though everyday speech often treats counties as mere map divisions, they shape real lives: school districts, tax rates, and even jury duty frequently depend on county lines.
nounA territorial division within a country or state, typically the largest unit of local government, with its own administrative functions. In Britain, a county is a geographic and administrative region; in the United States, it is an administrative subdivision of a state.
- The largest administrative division of local government in a U.S. state (e.g., Los Angeles County).
- A territorial and administrative region in Britain and Ireland, historically associated with a count's jurisdiction.
- (In some contexts) The inhabitants of a county collectively, as in 'the whole county turned out to vote.'
"The county council approved funding for three new libraries last week."
"She was elected sheriff of the county in a landslide victory."
"Yorkshire is England's largest county by area."
Standard plural form; used when referring to multiple counties collectively.
"Three neighboring counties pooled resources to build the regional airport."
The word 'county' literally means 'the land ruled by a count' — a leftover from Norman France that still governs how millions of people live today.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of county
'County' entered Middle English from Old French 'conté,' itself from Late Latin 'comitatus,' meaning the domain or office of a 'comes' (count) — a high-ranking imperial official. After the Norman Conquest of 1066, French-speaking administrators applied this term to existing English territorial divisions, replacing the older term 'shire' in official use, though 'shire' survived in names like Yorkshire. Cognates include the French 'comté' and related titles such as 'count' and 'viscount.'
Related word forms
How county is actually used
In the United States, 'county' refers specifically to a subdivision of a state with defined governmental powers. In Britain and Ireland, counties are older geographic entities whose boundaries may differ from modern administrative divisions. Louisiana uses 'parish' instead of county; Alaska uses 'borough.'
Easily confused with county
A country is a sovereign nation-state, while a county is a smaller administrative subdivision within one.