Definition of: county

(koun′tē) noun plural ·ties
1 A civil division of a state or kingdom, created for political, judicial, and administrative purposes. In the United States, it is the division next below a State with the exception of Louisiana, where it is called a parish. In England a county is sometimes called a shire. In some of the British Colonies a county is a division for administrative purposes.
2 The inhabitants of a county: Your county is noted for its intelligence.
3 Obs. The domain of an earl or count.
4 Obs. An earl or count. [<AF counté <L comitatus <comes count, companion]