alderman
noun
al·der·man ˈȯl-dər-mən 
1
: a person governing a kingdom, district, or shire as viceroy for an Anglo-Saxon king
2
a
: a magistrate formerly ranking next below the mayor in an English or Irish city or borough
b
: a high-ranking member of a borough or county council in Ireland or formerly in England chosen by elected members
3
: a member of a city legislative body
aldermanic
ˌȯl-dər-ˈma-nik
adjective 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Wysocki served 11 years as an alderman and four years as mayor in New Berlin between 1984 and 2005, served in other local bodies, and then was elected as the 22nd district supervisor for the county in 2016, 2018, 2000 and 2022. 
Jim Riccioli, Journal Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2022 Also charged was Burke’s longtime aide, Peter Andrews, who was accused of assisting the alderman in attempting to shake down two business owners seeking to renovate a Burger King restaurant in the 14th Ward. Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2022 The charges were related to abusing his power as alderman over liquor licenses to collect cash, food and cellphones from business owners. Isaac Yu, Journal Sentinel, 19 July 2022 Two other Black candidates had also won alderman races in Bolton that year. New York Times, 17 June 2022 Even after a local alderman spearheaded the construction of Grayson Stadium, more than a dozen teams and affiliations passed through over the years. Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2022 With inflation soaring, a downtown alderman wants to end Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s policy tying Chicago’s annual property tax hike to the increase in consumer prices. John Byrne, Chicago Tribune, 27 July 2022 Testimony in a 2006 federal corruption trial involving top Daley administration officials described how party bosses ordered city workers to campaign for Stone’s opponent, the sitting alderman. Megan O’matz, ProPublica, 25 May 2022 Attendees ranged from 14 to 21 years of age, according to the alderman. Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 12 May 2022 See More
Jim Riccioli, Journal Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2022 Also charged was Burke’s longtime aide, Peter Andrews, who was accused of assisting the alderman in attempting to shake down two business owners seeking to renovate a Burger King restaurant in the 14th Ward. Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2022 The charges were related to abusing his power as alderman over liquor licenses to collect cash, food and cellphones from business owners. Isaac Yu, Journal Sentinel, 19 July 2022 Two other Black candidates had also won alderman races in Bolton that year. New York Times, 17 June 2022 Even after a local alderman spearheaded the construction of Grayson Stadium, more than a dozen teams and affiliations passed through over the years. Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2022 With inflation soaring, a downtown alderman wants to end Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s policy tying Chicago’s annual property tax hike to the increase in consumer prices. John Byrne, Chicago Tribune, 27 July 2022 Testimony in a 2006 federal corruption trial involving top Daley administration officials described how party bosses ordered city workers to campaign for Stone’s opponent, the sitting alderman. Megan O’matz, ProPublica, 25 May 2022 Attendees ranged from 14 to 21 years of age, according to the alderman. Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 12 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English ealdorman, from ealdor parent (from eald old) + man — more at old
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
alderman
noun
al·der·man ˈȯl-dər-mən
: a member of a lawmaking body in a city
Legal Definition
alderman
noun
al·der·man ˈȯl-dər-mən
: a member of a city legislative body