Meanings
plural unitary authorities
- In local government, a single-tier authority which replaces a two-tier structure. For example, in England, county councils are abolished and their responsibilities are transferred to boroughs and local government districts (but this only applies to some counties, not all). In some cases complete counties, such as Cornwall and Northumberland, are now unitary authorities without any subdivision into local government districts.
"The support of Somerset Council (currently in transition to becoming a unitary authority) will be crucial, as they are the statutory planning authority."
2023 February 8, Andrew Mourant, “A serious shuttle service with options to Taunton and beyond”, in RAIL, number 976, page 31Synonyms: unitary council
Synonyms & antonyms
nounIn local government, a single-tier authority which replaces a two-tier structure. For example, in England, county councils are abolished and their responsibilities are transferred to boroughs and local government districts (but this only applies to some counties, not all). In some cases complete counties, such as Cornwall and Northumberland, are now unitary authorities without any subdivision into local government districts.
Cite this entry
unitary authority. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unitary%20authority
“unitary authority.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unitary%20authority. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “unitary authority,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unitary%20authority.
Source: unitary authority on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.