borough
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
one of the parts that a large city is divided into for local government.
an administrative division of a large city, such as London or New York, that manages local services and governance.
Simple“Camden is a famous borough in London known for its markets and music.”
In context“The city is divided into five distinct boroughs, each with its own president and specific administrative responsibilities under the municipal charter.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
a town that has its own local government and special rights.
a town or village that is an incorporated municipality, often possessing a royal charter or specific legal status.
Simple“The small borough held a meeting to discuss the new park rules.”
In context“Historically, the borough was granted the right to hold a weekly market by a royal decree in the fourteenth century.”
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
the name for a large area or county in the state of Alaska.
a primary administrative division in the state of Alaska, functionally equivalent to a county in other US states.
Simple“The North Slope Borough is the northernmost part of the United States.”
In context“Unlike most other states that use counties, Alaska is partitioned into organized boroughs and one unorganized borough covering the remainder of the territory.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
an old word for a town with walls or a fort for protection.
a fortified town or stronghold; the historical root of the modern administrative term.
Simple“The ancient borough was built on a hill to watch for enemies.”
In context“The suffix '-burgh' in many Scottish place names originates from the medieval borough, which served as a defensive and commercial hub.”
Synonyms
“So the market trader was surprised to learn that her borough, Barking and Dagenham, ranked the least friendly in England in a new study drawing on government data from the community life survey.”
“Eastbourne Borough Council did not install the first public toilets for ladies until 1900.”
From Middle English borwe, borgh, burgh, buruh, from Old English burh, burg, from Proto-West Germanic burg, from Proto-Germanic burgz (“stronghold, city”). Cognate with Dutch burcht, German Burg, Swedish borg, French bourg, Turkish burç. Doublet of Brough, burgh, and Bury.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.