borough

[ bur-oh, buhr-oh ]

noun

1. (in certain states of the U.S.) an incorporated municipality smaller than a city.
2. one of the five administrative divisions of New York City.
3. British.
   1. an urban community incorporated by royal charter, similar to an incorporated city or municipality in the U.S.
   2. a town, area, or constituency represented by a Member of Parliament.
   3. (formerly) a fortified town organized as and having some of the powers of an independent country.
4. (in Alaska) an administrative division similar to a county in other states.

borough

/ ˈbʌrə /

noun

1. a town, esp (in Britain) one that forms the constituency of an MP or that was originally incorporated by royal charter See also burgh
2. any of the 32 constituent divisions that together with the City of London make up Greater London
3. any of the five constituent divisions of New York City
4. (in the US) a self-governing incorporated municipality
5. (in medieval England) a fortified town or village or a fort
6. (in New Zealand) a small municipality with a governing body

Word History and Origins

Origin of borough¹

before 900; Middle English burw ( e ), borwg ( h ), borogh, bor ( u ) g, bur ( u ) g, burgh town, Old English burg fortified town; cognate with Old Norse borg, Old Saxon, Dutch burg, German Burg castle, Gothic baurgs city; MIr brí, brig, Welsh, Breton bre hill, Avestan bərəz- height; akin to Armenian bardzr, Hittite parkus high. See barrow ².

Word History and Origins

Origin of borough¹

Old English burg ; related to beorgan to shelter, Old Norse borg wall, Gothic baurgs city, Old High German burg fortified castle

Example Sentences

Their stand-off refusing a court order to collect higher taxes on the borough’s poorer residents ultimately led to the passing of a bill to better equalise tax burdens between the rich and poor.

From BBC

In the north London borough of Camden, a newly-styled school report card is being piloted, designed to be used on smartphones and tablets.

From BBC

Wirral is the first authority in Merseyside to adopt the robots and incorporate them into a formal offer for young people in the borough.

From BBC

His father Fred ran a successful construction company in the outer boroughs of New York.

From BBC

Trump has always been loathed in New York City, especially in his former home borough of Manhattan where the vote against him was and will be dependably over 80 percent.

From Salon

Related Words

• district
• precinct