burgess
noun
a representative in the popular branch of the colonial legislature of Virginia or Maryland.
burgess
1 American
[bur-jis]
/ ˈbɜr dʒɪs /
noun
-
American History. a representative in the popular branch of the colonial legislature of Virginia or Maryland.
-
(formerly) a representative of a borough in the British Parliament.
-
Rare. an inhabitant of an English borough.
Burgess
2
American
[bur-jis]
/ ˈbɜr dʒɪs /
noun
-
Anthony, 1917–93, English novelist and critic.
-
(Frank) Gelett 1866–1951, U.S. illustrator and humorist.
-
Thornton Waldo, 1874–1965, U.S. author, especially of children's books.
-
a male given name.
burgess
1
British
/ ˈbɜːdʒɪs /
noun
-
-
a citizen or freeman of a borough
-
any inhabitant of a borough
-
-
English history a Member of Parliament from a borough, corporate town, or university
-
a member of the colonial assembly of Maryland or Virginia
Burgess
2
British
/ ˈbɜːdʒɪs /
noun
-
Anthony , real name John Burgess Wilson . 1917–93, English novelist and critic: his novels include A Clockwork Orange (1962), Tremor of Intent (1966), Earthly Powers (1980), and Any Old Iron (1989)
-
Guy . 1911–63, British spy, who fled to the Soviet Union (with Donald Maclean) in 1951
Etymology
Origin of burgess
1175–1225; Middle English burgeis < Anglo-French, Old French, equivalent to burg city (< Germanic ) + -eis < Latin -ēnsis -ensis; cf. -ese
Explanation
Historically, a burgess was an important citizen. A free, male inhabitant of a medieval English borough was known as a burgess. A burgess was originally a fairly ordinary citizen, and the word shares a root with the French bourgeois, "member of the middle class." In England, it came to mean an elected official, or someone who represents a borough in the House of Commons. The American Colonies of Virginia and Maryland adopted a similar use of burgess, establishing a House of Burgess where elected representatives governed alongside a British-appointed governor.
Vocabulary lists containing burgess
Chapter 3: Colonial America
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Medieval Europe - Middle School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
European Colonization of North America, Lessons 1–2
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Since the conquerors felt they must stick together, it was possible for an ambitious young Norman lad, though only the son of a Cheapside burgess, to get a helping hand from Norman nobles.
From Time Magazine Archive
Bagpipes welcomed the Eisenhowers to Maybole, where the General was made a freeman and burgess.
From Time Magazine Archive
Some seven years ago it befell that a rich burgess of Abbeville departed from the town, together with his wife, his only son, and all his wealth, his goods and plenishing.
From Aucassin & Nicolette And Other Mediaeval Romances and Legends by Eugene Mason
It is too much that, in 1884, a duly-elected and properly-qualified burgess of Parliament should be shut outside by such votes.
From The True Story of my Parliamentary Struggle by Charles Bradlaugh
The fishmonger replied that being a leading burgess of Damme, he desired to have the laws of the empire respected and thus to deserve His Majesty’s clemency.
From The Legend of Ulenspiegel, Volume I (of 2) And Lamme Goedzak, and their Adventures Heroical, Joyous and Glorious in the Land of Flanders and Elsewhere by Charles Th?odore Henri de Coster
Burgess was taken to hospital after the incident, where he contracted Covid and died 22 days later, but the officers were not held responsible for his death.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
When Cameron isn’t practicing his moves with pro partner Sharna Burgess, the “Bachelorette” alum has a very personal real estate project to retreat to: his extensively renovated home in Jupiter, Fla.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
The increasing frequency of marine heatwaves is already "putting increasing pressure on marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them", Burgess said.
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
Australia's spy chief Mike Burgess singled out Russia last year as an "aggressive espionage threat" to the country.
From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026
Padva is always in attendance, and one or both Burgess sisters are a staple.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
