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.名詞B2
釋義

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.

例句

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

elect + person + alderman

The alderman asked city workers to fix the flooded street.

同義詞
  • 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

文法句型

elect + person + alderman

alderman for + district

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.名詞C1
釋義

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.

例句

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

同義詞
  • 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

文法句型

choose + person + alderman

serve as alderman

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.