What does alderman mean?
An alderman is a member of a city or town council, typically elected to represent a particular district or ward and to help make decisions about local laws, budgets, and services. The title is especially associated with municipal government in the United States — Chicago's city council, for example, is composed of fifty aldermen — while in Britain the office has largely faded into history following twentieth-century reforms of local government. The word itself is ancient: it derives from Old English elements meaning 'elder man,' reflecting the fact that early aldermen were senior figures entrusted with authority over their communities. In Anglo-Saxon England, an ealdorman could govern an entire shire, but over the centuries the title narrowed to its modern civic meaning. Today the term carries a formal, institutional tone, and because the office was traditionally male, variants such as 'alderwoman' and the gender-neutral 'alderperson' have emerged. For anyone interested in how local democracy is organized, 'alderman' is a useful word that connects present-day city politics with more than a millennium of English history.
nounA member of a city or town council, typically elected to represent a ward or district. In England, historically a senior officer of a borough or county ranking next below the mayor.
- A member of a municipal legislative body (such as a city or town council), especially one representing a ward — the dominant modern sense, particularly in the United States.
- (Historical, British) A senior civic officer of an English borough or county, ranking below the mayor, formerly holding judicial and administrative duties.
"The alderman proposed a new ordinance to improve public transit in her district."
"After months of debate, the alderman cast the deciding vote on the housing development."
"In medieval London, each ward elected its own alderman, who served for life and helped administer both law and commerce."
The standard plural is 'aldermen.' Where councils use gender-neutral titles, 'alderpersons' or 'alderpeople' may appear instead.
"The city's twelve aldermen approved the budget unanimously."
The word 'alderman' literally means 'elder man' — it's over a thousand years old and comes straight from the Old English title given to the most senior nobles in Anglo-Saxon England, who once governed entire shires.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of alderman
The word 'alderman' descends from Old English 'ealdorman,' meaning 'elder man' or senior leader, formed from 'ealdor' (chief, elder) plus 'man.' In Anglo-Saxon England, ealdormen were high-ranking royal officials who governed shires on the king's behalf. After the Norman Conquest the title gradually contracted in scope, eventually settling into its familiar civic sense as a senior officer of a borough and later as an ordinary member of a town or city council. It shares its Germanic root with the everyday word 'elder.'
Word family
Usage notes
In the United States, 'alderman' remains a common formal title for city council members in cities such as Chicago. In Britain, the office of alderman was largely abolished in local government reforms of the 20th century, so the term there is now chiefly historical. Because the role was traditionally held by men, some jurisdictions have adopted 'alderwoman' or the gender-neutral 'alderperson.' The word carries a formal, civic register.
Don't confuse with
An elder is simply an older or respected member of a community, whereas an alderman is specifically an elected municipal official; the two share a root but differ entirely in meaning.