alderman

[ awl-der-muh n ]

/ ˈɔl dər mən /

noun, plural al·der·men.

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

(in England) one of the members, chosen by the elected councilors, in a borough or county council.

Early English History.

a chief.
(later) the chief magistrate of a county or group of counties.

Northern U.S. Slang. a pot belly.

Nearby words

alder buckthorn, alder fly, alder flycatcher, alder's anomaly, alderfly, alderman, aldermanry, aldermaston, alderney, alderperson, aldershot

Origin of alderman

before 900; Middle English; Old English (e)aldormann, equivalent to ealdor chief, patriarch (eald old + -or noun suffix) + mann man¹

Related forms

al·der·man·cy, al·der·man·ship, nounal·der·man·ic

[awl-der-man-ik] /ˌɔl dərˈmæn ɪk/, adjectiveun·der·al·der·man, noun, plural un·der·al·der·men.

Usage note

See -man.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for alderman

Antonio French, a citizen journalist and alderman of the 21st ward in St. Louis, was also detained.
Embarrassment, Fear, and Anger: Ferguson's Emotional Whispers|Melissa Leon|August 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A New York alderman once said Petrosino “knocked out more teeth than a dentist.”
Who Really Murdered Joe Petrosino?|Barbie Latza Nadeau|June 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Dirk Johnson on the real winners—including an alderman rooting for a weak mayor.
Rahm's Pain, Whose Gain?|Dirk Johnson|January 24, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Nobody, that is, except the lawyer who brought the case, Burt Odelson—and, according to whispers at City Hall, Alderman Burke.
Rahm's Pain, Whose Gain?|Dirk Johnson|January 24, 2011|DAILY BEAST

Rick Munoz, alderman of the 22nd Ward and an active Latino Caucus member, has called Emanuel a "political bully."
Rahm vs. the Left|Adam Doster|October 5, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Alderman Fowler accused of having sinned in a similar way against Howell.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 93. July 30, 1887|Various
Truly, if it be not for trade, there is little in common between the mariners of the brigantine and Alderman Van Beverout.
The Water-Witch or, The Skimmer of the Seas|James Fenimore Cooper
He was a very Alderman in embryo, if there are such things as coloured Aldermen.
Mystic London:|Charles Maurice Davies
It is said that he lived here in great splendour, as befits a rich merchant who is also an Alderman.
For Faith and Freedom|Walter Besant
But, if you can make Alderman Fondlewife of your persuasion, this letter will be needless.
The Comedies of William Congreve|William Congreve

British Dictionary definitions for alderman

alderman

/ (ˈɔːldəmən) /

noun plural -men

(in England and Wales until 1974) one of the senior members of a local council, elected by other councillors

(in the US, Canada, Australia, etc) a member of the governing body of a municipality

history a variant spelling of ealdorman

Abbreviations (for senses 1, 2): Ald, Aldm

Derived Forms

aldermanic (ˌɔːldəˈmænɪk), adjectivealdermanry, nounaldermanship, noun

Word Origin for alderman

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Culture definitions for alderman

alderman

[ (awl-duhr-muhn) ]

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.