county board: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Official, Administrative
Quick answer
What does “county board” mean?
A local government body, typically elected, that administers the affairs of a county.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A local government body, typically elected, that administers the affairs of a county.
More broadly, can refer to any official committee or administrative group overseeing services (like education, health, or planning) within a county-level jurisdiction. In some contexts, particularly in Ireland, it can refer specifically to a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) county board.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'county council' is the far more common term for the principal local government body. 'County board' is rare and would likely refer to a specific subordinate committee (e.g., a planning board). In the US, 'county board' is a standard term (alongside 'board of commissioners' or 'board of supervisors') for the main elected governing body of a county.
Connotations
UK: Technical, specific to a sub-committee. US: Standard, democratic, local governance. Ireland: Strongly associated with the administration of Gaelic games.
Frequency
High frequency in US administrative/political contexts; low frequency in modern UK English except in specific compound forms; high frequency in Irish sports reporting.
Grammar
How to Use “county board” in a Sentence
The [County Board] + [verb: approved/voted/rejected] + [policy/budget].[She/He] + [was elected/appointed] + [to/on] + [the County Board].The [issue] + [was decided] + [by the County Board].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “county board” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The county-board regulations were complex.
- It was a county-board matter.
American English
- The county-board regulations were complex.
- It was a county-board matter.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
A local business may need to apply for a permit from the county board.
Academic
The paper analysed the shifting political demographics of the county board over three decades.
Everyday
Our property tax increase was approved by the county board last night.
Technical
The county board, acting as the board of health, issued a new sanitation ordinance.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “county board”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “county board”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “county board”
- Using 'county board' to refer to a city/town council. Confusing it with a school board, which is usually a separate entity.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A county board governs a county, which is a larger administrative division that may contain several cities and towns. A city council governs a single municipality (city). Their jurisdictions and responsibilities are legally separate.
They are very similar concepts. 'County council' is the predominant term in the UK and some Commonwealth countries, while 'county board', 'board of commissioners', or 'board of supervisors' are common in the US. The choice of term is a matter of local legal naming convention.
Yes. In Ireland, a 'county board' (often 'GAA county board') is the committee responsible for managing Gaelic games (like hurling and Gaelic football) in that county. This is a sports administrative body, not a government.
In most cases, especially in the US, members are elected by the residents of the county in local elections. In some systems, they may be appointed or include a mix of elected and ex-officio members.
A local government body, typically elected, that administers the affairs of a county.
County board is usually formal, official, administrative in register.
County board: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkaʊnti bɔːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkaʊnti bɔːrd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Through the county board channels”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'board' of directors for a 'county'—the people who steer the local region.
Conceptual Metaphor
GOVERNANCE IS STEERING (the board steers the county).
Practice
Quiz
In which country is 'county board' MOST commonly the standard term for the main elected county government?