county

SayKOWN-tee/ˈkaʊn(t)i/UK/ˈkaʊnti/

4 meanings of county

1
regionnouncountable
One of the areas that a country or US state is divided into, usually with its own local government.
Like slicing a big cake into pieces so each part is easier to manage.
Our county has three high schools and one hospital.
The county fixed the potholes on our road last week.
UsageIn the US, the name usually comes first: Orange County. For two or more, you can write Fairfax and Montgomery counties.
Note
2
jailnounslangUSuncountable
The local jail that a county government runs.
He spent two weeks in county after the fight.
Visiting hours at county are only on weekends.
UsageUsually with no the: he went to county. In careful writing, say county jail.
Similarjail
Note
3
count's landnounhistoricalcountable or uncountable
The land that a count or countess ruled in the past.
Like a large estate that belongs to a lord, where everyone living there answers to him.
The count expanded his county by marrying into a neighboring family.
The first of the principalities of the Low Countries to take clear shape was the county of Flanders.
2018, Paul Arblaster, A History of the Low CountriesHere, county means the land that a count ruled.
UsageOften the county of + a name: the county of Flanders.
Similarcountship, countdom

Less common meaning

4
upper-classadjectiveBritish
Typical of the old, important landowning families of a country area.
Like calling someone 'high-class' because their family has been rich and respected for a long time.
Her accent and her manners were very county.
Her parents were very county, with horses, dogs, and a big old house.
UsageOften with very: her parents were very county. It is not the same word as country.
Similararistocratic, genteel, patrician
Note

Practice

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Origin

It came through Middle English and Old French from Latin comitātus, meaning the area ruled by a count, from comes ('count').

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

County came through Middle English and Old French from Latin comitātus. en.wiktionary.org
Latin comitātus meant the area ruled by a count and derives from comes, meaning count. en.wiktionary.org