aedile

American  

[ee-dahyl] / ˈi daɪl /

Or edile

noun

Roman History.

1. one of a board of magistrates in charge of public buildings, streets, markets, games, etc.

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aedile British  

/ ˈiːdaɪl /

noun

1. a magistrate of ancient Rome in charge of public works, games, buildings, and roads

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• aedileship
  noun
• aedilitian
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of aedile

1570–80; < Latin aedīlis, equivalent to aedi- (stem of aedēs; see aedicule) + -īlis -ile

Example Sentences

Scipio was elected aedile, one of four magistrates responsible for Rome’s public buildings and religious games, at 22.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 16, 2025

During the next 20 years, Caesar climbed nimbly up the Roman ladder of state offices�quaestor, aedile, praetor, consul.

From Time Magazine Archive

He later on brought Favonius the aedile to the same place on some small charge, in order that he might have a companion in his disgrace.

From Dio's Rome, Volume 2 An Historical Narrative Originally Composed in Greek During the Reigns of Septimius Severus, Geta and Caracalla, Macrinus, Elagabalus and Alexander Severus; and Now Presented in English Form. Second Volume Extant Books 36-44 (B.C. 69-44). by Foster, Herbert Baldwin

With regard to the other aedile, likewise, an order of the commons was made.

From The History of Rome, Books 27 to 36 by Livius, Titus

The tribunes proposed to the commons, and the commons ordered that this should be as if the aedile himself had sworn.

From The History of Rome, Books 27 to 36 by Livius, Titus