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

Everyone the police arrest in New York City gets arraigned shortly thereafter in the criminal courts operating in the city’s five boroughs. — Robert Gangi, New York Daily News, 16 Aug. 2026

Proceeds also go to the Wembley Community Club, which serves the community in Brent, the London borough where England’s national stadium is located, by supporting not-for-profit charities, schools and community groups. — Colin Millar, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Supermoon also happens to make some of the wildest gelato in the five boroughs, with pints of pandan & kaya jam, Thai iced tea, and strawberry yuzu matcha. — Kyle Beechey, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Aug. 2026

Both lines run crosstown through Manhattan and into surrounding boroughs. — Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 14 Aug. 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