noun
merger of towns and villages
Refers to the administrative consolidation of towns (町) and villages (村) into a larger municipality, often as part of broader municipal mergers (市町村合併).
平成の大合併では、多くの町村合併が行われた。
During the Heisei great mergers, many towns and villages were consolidated.
市町村合併 is a broader term covering mergers involving cities, towns, and villages, while 町村合併 specifically refers to mergers of towns and villages only.
Compound of 町村 (towns and villages) and 合併 (merger).