Word
councilman
Phoneticscoun·cil·man, stress on the first syllable
/ˈkaʊnsəɫmən/
Countable noun Politics
Definition
n. a person who is a member of a local government group. They help make decisions and laws for a city or town.
n. a male member of a local administrative body or municipal assembly. Often used in North American contexts to refer to an elected representative in city government.
Examples
“The councilman voted against the new park tax.”
“After the heavy storm, the local councilman visited the flooded streets to talk with concerned residents about repairs.”
“The councilman proposed an amendment to the zoning laws, arguing that the city needed more affordable housing to support its growing workforce.”
Examples
simple
“The councilman voted against the new park tax.”
contextual
“After the heavy storm, the local councilman visited the flooded streets to talk with concerned residents about repairs.”
complex
“The councilman proposed an amendment to the zoning laws, arguing that the city needed more affordable housing to support its growing workforce.”
Usage
The gender-neutral alternative 'councilmember' or 'councilor' is increasingly common in official contexts.
Etymology
From council + -man.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/councilman