county

plural counties

1. countablehistoricaluncountableThe land ruled by a count or a countess.

   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 Countries

   Synonyms: countship, countdom

2. countableuncountableAn administrative or geographical region of various countries, including Bhutan, Canada, China, Croatia, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, South Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and 47 of the 50 United States (excluding Alaska, Connecticut, and Louisiana).

   1 more example

   Entire states such as California, Illinois and New York are now sanctuaries, as well as major cities and counties such as Fairfax, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties and the District of Columbia in the capital region, according to the list. […] FAIR says the county is a sanctuary because it tells police not to ask about immigration status even during an arrest.

   2018 May 10, Stephen Dinan, “Half of all Americans now live in ‘sanctuaries’ protecting immigrants”, in The Washington Times

   Synonyms: hsien

3. countableuncountableA definitive geographic region, without direct administrative functions.

   traditional county

4. USslanguncountableA jail operated by a county government.

   He can't come; he's up in the county for agg assault.

   1 more example

   Okay gentlemen, you've both been to county before, I'm sure. Here it comes.

   1994, Quentin Tarantino, Roger Avary, Pulp Fiction, spoken by The Wolf (Harvey Keitel)

comparative more county · superlative most county

1. Characteristic of a ‘county family’; representative of the gentry or aristocracy of a county.

   She was a tall girl and county, with Hilary's walk: she seemed to topple even when she sat.

   1979, John Le Carré, Smiley's People, Folio Society, published 2010, page 274

   3 more examples

   Now, in the district around Chipping Carby, the County Families are very County indeed, few more so.

   1886, Andrew Lang, The Mark of Cain

   The other two, like many of her characters, have fallen on harder times: Joan's family has recently lost her father, a small flour-mill owner -- described by a supporter as more "county" than the upstart newcomers who covet their property ...

   2007, Heather Julien, Gender and Literacy in Britain, 1847--1987, →ISBN

   Susan Dean realises that her secretary, Eleanor Grantly, is much more county than she ever will be, because Eleanor knows all the Barsetshire family connections and is connected herself.

   2015, Kate Macdonald, Novelists Against Social Change: Conservative Popular Fiction, 1920-1960, →ISBN