burgher
Americannoun
noun
-
a member of the trading or mercantile class of a medieval city
-
a respectable citizen; bourgeois
-
archaic a citizen or inhabitant of a corporate town, esp on the Continent
-
history
-
a citizen of the Cape Colony or of one of the Transvaal and Free State republics
-
( as modifier )
burgher troops
-
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of burgher
1560–70; < Middle Dutch < Middle High German burger, equivalent to burg borough + -er -er 1
Explanation
Burgher is an old-fashioned term for a well-to-do resident of a town. Thanks to the wealthy burghers of your little city, the library got a fancy new cafe. This word can be used in a humorous way to mean "member of the bourgeoisie," but it originally referred to an official rank. During medieval times, privileged members of a European town (often those who were male and owned property) were given the title of burgher. City governments were composed of burghers, or “freemen of a burgh or borough.”
Vocabulary lists containing burgher
"Genesis of the Tenement," Vocabulary from the essay
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!
Medieval Europe - High School
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.
Anthony would marry again, this time to a woman who was a Dutch burgher of impeccable standing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026
It’s not exactly Wall Street functionary — the dark shirts and abstract print ties speak to a different cinematographic stereotype — but it’s pretty close to prosperous burgher.
From New York Times ● May 19, 2022
He recruited the famous woodcut artist Lucas Cranach, a friend and wealthy Wittenberg burgher, to improve the appearance of his works.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 26, 2017
To friends and business associates, including struggling writers, he was frequently generous, more generous than unalloyed prudence or the burgher work ethic that he embodied might lead us to expect.
From The New Yorker ● May 16, 2016
"Oh, nonsense!" replied the courageous burgher; "who should defeat them if the Duke was not there?"
From Henry of Guise; (Vol. II of 3) or, The States of Blois by G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James
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.
