borough

noun

bor·​ough ˈbər-(ˌ)ō 

ˈbə-(ˌ)rō

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 (such 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

Examples of borough in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Their service is part of the fabric of our communities, from the five boroughs to Long Island, Westchester and New Jersey. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 11 Nov. 2026

With her tight perm, oversized glasses and thick outer-borough accent, Johansson’s Hester has a watchful unease as the dangers surrounding her family mount. — Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026

Lin Te-wang, chair of the Taiwan People's Communist Party, was detained after authorities accused him of running as a candidate for borough chief under the direction and sponsorship of China's Communist Party. — Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2026

Following snow-removal issues on Staten Island last winter, the city added eight new plow routes in the borough's hilliest areas. — Marcia Kramer, CBS News, 9 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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 the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing borough

• borough English
• borough hall
• county borough
• inter-borough
• metropolitan borough
• municipal borough
• pocket borough
• rotten borough

Rhymes for borough

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau

Kids Definition

borough

noun

bor·​ough ˈbər-ō 

1

a

: a town or urban area in Great Britain that sends a member to Parliament

b

: a self-governing urban area in Great Britain

2

: a self-governing town or village in some states

3

: one of the five political divisions of New York City