alderperson

[ awl-der-pur-suhn ]

noun

1. a member of a municipal legislative body, especially of a municipal council.

Gender Note

Is it alderperson, alderman, or alderwoman? See -person.

Word History and Origins

Origin of alderperson¹

First recorded in 1965–70; alder(man) or alder(woman) ( def ) + -person

Example Sentences

“We haven’t seen gun violence go down as a result of this system,” Jessie Fuentes, an alderperson, said during the meeting, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

From Salon

The AP will also tabulate 14 races for Chicago alderperson but will not call winners in those races until after the results are certified.

From Seattle Times

AP will also tabulate an additional 57 races, for Chicago alderperson and police council, but will not call winners in those races.

From Seattle Times

Also, call your local alderperson, school board president … whomever might be able to do something to break up Club Library, because it sounds like a nightmare and like it might also make things difficult for those kids who do need and want to study there, especially anyone who doesn’t have computer access at home.

From Slate

It wasn’t that every alderperson stopped doubting Burge’s victims, he said – but that some of them had made the decision to just move on: to pass the ordinance “rather than fight”.

From The Guardian