alderman

[ awl-der-muhn ]

noun

, plural al·der·men.

1. a member of a municipal legislative body, especially of a municipal council.
2. (in England) one of the members, chosen by the elected councilors, in a borough or county council.
3. Early English History.
   1. a chief.
   2. (later) the chief magistrate of a county or group of counties.
4. Northern U.S. Slang. a pot belly.

alderman

/ ˌɔːldəˈmænɪk; ˈɔːldəmən /

noun

1. (in England and Wales until 1974) one of the senior members of a local council, elected by other councillors
2. (in the US, Canada, Australia, etc) a member of the governing body of a municipality
3. history a variant spelling of ealdorman

alderman

1. A member of a city council. Aldermen usually represent city districts, called wards, and work with the mayor to run the city government. Jockeying among aldermen for political influence is often associated with machine politics .

Gender Note

Is alderman gender-neutral? See -man.

Derived Forms

• ˈaldermanry, noun
• ˈaldermanˌship, noun
• aldermanic, adjective

Other Words From

• alder·man·cy alder·man·ship noun
• al·der·man·ic [awl-der-, man, -ik], adjective
• under·alder·man noun plural underaldermen

Word History and Origins

Origin of alderman¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English (e)aldormann, equivalent to ealdor “chief, patriarch” ( eald old + -or noun suffix) + mann man

Word History and Origins

Origin of alderman¹

Old English aldormann, from ealdor chief (comparative of eald old ) + mann man

Example Sentences

“The alderman’s office has definitely received complaints from neighbors about people gathering and people placing a bunch of different objects in the public way there,” she told The Associated Press.

From Seattle Times

He has served as an alderman in Derby and ran for mayor of the city in 2023.

From Seattle Times

In the general election in November, Justice O’Neill Burke will face a Republican opponent, Bob Fioretti, a former alderman.

From New York Times

Conyears-Ervin, who has backing from the influential Chicago Teachers Union, leads in fundraising and is married to a city alderman, says her perspective as a working mother resonates with voters.

From Seattle Times

Megan Green, president of the St. Louis City board of aldermen, said that Ms. Bush has been attuned to the city’s needs.

From New York Times