What does alderwoman mean?
An alderwoman is a woman who holds the office of alderman, an older title used in parts of Britain and the United States for members of municipal or local councils. The word is gender-specific: an alderman is the corresponding male officeholder, while an alderwoman is a woman in that role. In modern usage, the title can sound traditional or ceremonial, especially in British town and borough councils, though it may also denote a working councillor with particular responsibilities. Writers often use councillor or the gender-neutral alderperson when the officeholder’s gender is irrelevant, or use those terms generally to avoid an explicitly gendered label. Alderwoman remains a clear and useful term when a woman’s identity is relevant and the council’s official title is alderman. Its distinctive sound and strong political context make it more than an unusual gender variant: it names both a person and a place in the vocabulary of local government.
nounAn alderwoman is a woman who holds the office of alderman, especially as a member of a town or city council. The title is chiefly associated with British local government but is also used in some US municipal contexts.
- A woman holding the office of alderman, especially in a municipal or local council.
"The alderwoman for Ward 4 introduced the proposal to the council."
"She was elected alderwoman of the borough in May."
"The alderwoman chaired a public meeting about housing development."
The standard plural is alderwomen. In a mixed-gender group, councillors or alderpersons may be preferred when gender is not relevant.
"The election returned two alderwomen and three aldermen."
The title says it plainly: an alderwoman is a woman doing a job once labeled alderman.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does alderwoman come from?
Alderwoman is a modern English formation created by adding -woman to alderman. Alder man descends from Old English ældormann, literally “old man,” a term originally applied to a senior or leading figure and later to a municipal official. Related forms include alder and aldermen, while chairwoman and spokeswoman illustrate the same English pattern of forming feminine titles with -woman.
Related word forms
How alderwoman is actually used
This is a traditional, formal title used chiefly in British English, although it also occurs in some US municipal contexts. When the officeholder’s gender is irrelevant, writers may use a more general term such as councillor or the gender-neutral alderperson.
Easily confused with alderwoman
An alderman is the male holder of the corresponding office, whereas an alderwoman is the female holder.