burgess

[ bur-jis ]

/ ˈbɜr dʒɪs /

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See synonyms for burgess on Thesaurus.com

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.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of burgess

1175–1225; Middle English burgeis<Anglo-French, Old French, equivalent to burg city (<Germanic ) + -eis<Latin -ēnsis-ensis; cf. -ese

Words nearby burgess

burgee, Burgenland, burgeon, burgeoning, burger, burgess, Burgess Shale, burgh, burgher, Burghley, Burghley House

Other definitions for burgess (2 of 2)

Burgess

[ bur-jis ]

/ ˈbɜr dʒɪs /

noun

Anthony, 1917–93, English novelist and critic.

(Frank) Ge·lett

[juh-let], /dʒəˈlɛt/, 1866–1951, U.S. illustrator and humorist.

Thornton Waldo, 1874–1965, U.S. author, especially of children's books.

a male given name.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use burgess in a sentence

The board’s quick move to fire Laaperi from his coaching position at Coronado High School does, in some ways, mirror what happened with Burgess.
Coronado Community Has Rallied to Defend Many Embattled Coaches|Kayla Jimenez|July 12, 2021|Voice of San Diego
Burgess required nine weeks PTO to deal with the physical and emotional fallout, which included infections requiring surgery, as well as not being able to get through the day for a lack of concentration and generally feeling “despondent.”
‘My intuition was to hide my experience to protect my image’: Rise of miscarriage leave prompts debate around pregnancy discrimination|Jessica Davies|May 6, 2021|Digiday
What followed was a hectic 48 hours in which Burgess maneuvered to restore many of the lost benefits — and then get them approved in the House.
Florida Lawmakers Send Lifeline to Families With Brain-Damaged Children|by Daniel Chang and Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald|April 30, 2021|ProPublica
Burgess is the associate dean for research at the University of Arizona’s College of Public Health in Tucson.
Moderna and Pfizer vaccines appear to cut coronavirus spread|Tina Hesman Saey|April 1, 2021|Science News For Students

So it wasn’t surprising when, after Burgess decided to upload it to Instagram the following morning, it quickly went viral.
"Cougar Guy" Tells the Story Behind His Viral Video|Luke Whelan|October 16, 2020|Outside Online
NCIS managed to eavesdrop on phone calls Wright made to his mother, Valerie Burgess.
The Navy ‘Hero’ Who Pimped an HIV-Positive Teen|M.L. Nestel|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Calls to Burgess to comment on this story were not returned.
The Navy ‘Hero’ Who Pimped an HIV-Positive Teen|M.L. Nestel|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“This is a prestigious panel, an all-star group,” Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) gushed of the five people sitting before him.
The Heroin Hearing That Wasn’t|Abby Haglage|April 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Her attention to language—and the breakdown of language—invites comparisons to writers like Anthony Burgess and Lewis Carroll.
This Week’s Hot Reads: April 21, 2014|Thomas Flynn|April 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In any case, Burgess likes to rail against these pushy liberals and their tricky, communistic light bulbs.
The GOP’s Relentless Crusade to Save America From Commie Light Bulbs|Michael Tomasky|January 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They having first in the tavern made Mr. Waith also a burgess, he coming in while we were drinking.
Diary of Samuel Pepys, Complete|Samuel Pepys
In another way also the “foreigners” who were members of the Merchant Gild were useful to the burgess-members of it.
The Influence and Development of English Gilds|Francis Aiden Hibbert
In 1888, the lovers of racing pinned their faith to the 30-foot class, and Burgess's fame rose higher and higher.
Yachting Vol. 2|Various.
We cross the bridge and find another on the south bank near the toll-house and Burgess's tavern.
The Boys of '61|Charles Carleton Coffin.
A little while ago, at the Palladium, there was a Moore and Burgess revival.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 146, January 28, 1914|Various

British Dictionary definitions for burgess (1 of 2)

burgess

/ (ˈbɜːdʒɪs) /

noun

(in England)

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

Word Origin for burgess

C13: from Old French burgeis, from borc town, from Late Latin burgus, of Germanic origin; see borough

British Dictionary definitions for burgess (2 of 2)

Burgess

/ (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

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

burgess

Origin of burgess

Words nearby burgess

Other definitions for burgess (2 of 2)

Words related to burgess

How to use burgess in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for burgess (1 of 2)

Word Origin for burgess

British Dictionary definitions for burgess (2 of 2)