burgher

noun

bur·​gher ˈbər-gər How to pronounce burgher (audio)
1
: an inhabitant of a borough or a town
2
: a member of the middle class : a prosperous solid citizen

Examples of burgher in a Sentence

many of the college students are regarded by the local burghers as obnoxious louts
Recent Examples on the Web The ensemble performs at Mass for the pleasure of the local burghers and townsfolk, whose contributions to Sant’Ignazio are obviously vital to its existence. Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019 One question implicit in the new novel is how many people will get to lead this burgher’s life before it’s taken away. Charles Finch, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2020 No one paints so confidently and so freely, at least among the famous Old Masters, and no one can make a fat Dutch burgher look like a movie star. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 3 Feb. 2022 But El Paso’s burghers had visions for a different Duranguito. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2020 There are photos of the president grinning out from the middle of some ruddy array of wheezing burghers or gouty lawmen, always shot from far enough away that everyone’s shoes are visible. David Roth, The New Republic, 19 Dec. 2019 One of the burghers, emaciated, scantily draped, with a noose around his neck, holds a pillow with the keys to the city. Susan Dunne, courant.com, 29 Oct. 2019 Killing Kittens guests are your friends and neighbors, the good burghers of New York City. Jenna Sauers, Harper's BAZAAR, 29 June 2016 The city burghers even had a nonbinding agreement with the Charlotte Hornets, which wanted to relocate. Joe Nocera, Bloomberg.com, 13 Dec. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'burgher.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of burgher was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near burgher

Cite this Entry

“Burgher.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burgher. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

burgher

noun
bur·​gher ˈbər-gər How to pronounce burgher (audio)
: a person who lives in a borough or a town

More from Merriam-Webster on burgher

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