A city designated by government ordinance under the Local Autonomy Act, often abbreviated from 政令指定都市. Used in legal and administrative contexts.
See also: 政令指定都市
Ordinance-designated cities are delegated many powers from the prefectural government.
Full official term for an ordinance-designated city; 指定都市 is a common abbreviation.
ordinance-designated city; government-designated city
Compound of 指定 (designation) and 都市 (city), referring to a city designated by government ordinance.