district

[ dis-trikt ]

noun

1. a division of territory, as of a country, state, or county, marked off for administrative, electoral, or other purposes.
2. a region or locality:

   the theater district; the Lake District.

3. British. a subdivision of a county or a town.
4. the District, the District of Columbia; Washington, D.C.

verb (used with object)

1. to divide into districts.

district

/ ˈdɪstrɪkt /

noun

1. 1. an area of land marked off for administrative or other purposes
   2. ( as modifier )

      district nurse

2. a locality separated by geographical attributes; region
3. any subdivision of any territory, region, etc
4. (in England from 1974 and in Wales 1974–96) any of the subdivisions of the nonmetropolitan counties that elects a council responsible for local planning, housing, rates, etc See also metropolitan district
5. (in Scotland until 1975) a landward division of a county
6. (in Scotland 1975–96) any of the subdivisions of the regions that elected a council responsible for environmental health services, housing, etc
7. any of the 26 areas into which Northern Ireland has been divided since 1973. Elected district councils are responsible for environmental health services, etc

verb

1. tr to divide into districts

Other Words From

• inter·district adjective
• outdistrict noun
• pre·district noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of district¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from French, from Medieval Latin distrīctus “exercise of justice, restraining of offenders,” derivative of Latin distringere “to stretch out; detain, occupy,” equivalent to di- suffix of separation + strig- (base of stringere “to bind, tie”) + -tus suffix of verbal action; distrain, di- ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of district¹

C17: from Medieval Latin districtus area of jurisdiction, from Latin distringere to stretch out; see distrain

Example Sentences

When she gets sworn in next month, she will become the first L.A. council member of Filipino heritage and District 14’s first female and first LGBTQ+ representative.

From Los Angeles Times

District 14, which is 61% Latino, includes Boyle Heights, the cradle of Latino politics in Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times

The Santo Niño entered Eastside infamy in 2020, when José Huizar, who then represented District 14, posted an image of the Catholic icon on social media hours before FBI agents raided the politico’s home.

From Los Angeles Times

Jurado’s pitch to the señora: Born and raised in the district.

From Los Angeles Times

“As a candidate, people are offering things to you and even more so as a council member in a very lucrative district,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• commune
• community
• department
• locality
• neighborhood
• parish
• precinct
• region
• section
• sector
• territory