alderman

IPA/ˈɔːldəmən/
KK[ˈɔldɚmən]IPA/ˈɔːldərmən/

alderman — noun

  • aldermansingular
  • aldermenplural

1. In some cities in the US, Canada, and Australia, an alderman is a person chosen

1.nounB2
Definition

In some cities in the US, Canada, and Australia, an alderman is a person chosen by voters to sit on the city council and make local decisions.

Example

Voters in Chicago elected Rosa alderman for the South Harbor district.

elect + person + alderman

The alderman asked city workers to fix the flooded street.

Common collocations
  • elect an alderman
  • city alderman
  • ward alderman
  • run for alderman
Synonyms
  • council member

    neutral modern label that fits many city councils, even when they do not use the historic title alderman

  • councillor

    common in British and Commonwealth English, and often broader than alderman

  • local legislator

    formal description that emphasizes making local laws rather than the exact title

Grammar Patterns

elect + person + alderman

alderman for + district

Usage Note

This sense is mainly used for the North American and Australian title. Unlike sense 2, the person is elected by the public rather than chosen by fellow councillors.

Common Mistakes

The council chose Nora as alderman after the public vote.
Voters elected Nora as alderman in the public vote.
In this sense, the office is filled by voters, not by fellow councillors.
The alderman leads the whole city government.
The mayor leads the city government, and the alderman serves on the council.
An alderman is usually one council member, not the city's top executive.

2. In Britain and Ireland in earlier times, an alderman was a senior council member

2.nounC1
Definition

In Britain and Ireland in earlier times, an alderman was a senior council member selected by other councillors instead of by a direct public vote.

Example

In 1908, Alderman Hughes chaired the meeting while the mayor traveled.

Under the old system, councillors chose Farah as alderman for the borough.

choose + person + alderman

Common collocations
  • choose an alderman
  • senior alderman
  • serve as alderman
  • alderman of the borough
Synonyms
  • councillor

    broader term for a council member and not always a senior one

  • civic official

    general label that does not show the specific historical rank

Grammar Patterns

choose + person + alderman

serve as alderman

Usage Note

Historical UK and Ireland sense. Unlike sense 1, this title usually referred to a senior member chosen by fellow councillors rather than elected directly by the public.

Common Mistakes

Residents elected Malik alderman in yesterday's town vote.
The councillors chose Malik as alderman after yesterday's town vote.
In this historical sense, fellow councillors selected the alderman.
The alderman was the same as the mayor.
The alderman was a senior council member, not the mayor.
The role was important but usually ranked below the mayor.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Alderman, councillor, and council member all refer to people who work in local government, but they are not always exact substitutes. In many North American cities, an alderman is an elected person on the city council, often representing one district or ward. Councillor is the broader British and Commonwealth term for a local elected member. Council member is a neutral modern label that avoids the older title alderman. Mayor is different again: the mayor leads the city government, while an alderman is one member of the governing body. You can elect an alderman to represent a district, but that does not make the person the mayor.

alderman ↗councillor ↗council membermayor ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • serve as an alderman
  • former alderman

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Alderman comes from Old English parts meaning an older or senior man. The word first referred to a person of high standing in a community, and later became a formal title in local government. That older idea of senior rank still helps explain why the historical British and Irish sense refers to a councillor with higher standing than ordinary members.