borough

bor·ough

noun \ˈbər-(ˌ)ō, ˈbə-(ˌ)rō\

Definition of BOROUGH

1

a : a medieval fortified group of houses forming a town with special duties and privileges b : a town or urban constituency in Great Britain that sends a member to Parliament c : an urban area in Great Britain incorporated for purposes of self-government

2

a : a municipal corporation proper in some states (as New Jersey and Minnesota) corresponding to the incorporated town or village of the other states b : one of the five constituent political divisions of New York City

3

: a civil division of the state of Alaska corresponding to a county in most other states

Origin of BOROUGH

Middle English burgh, from Old English burg fortified town; akin to Old High German burg fortified place, and probably to Old English beorg hill — more at barrow

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

Rhymes with BOROUGH

burrow, curragh, furrow, ore, thorough