selectman

noun

se·​lect·​man sə-ˈlek(t)-ˌman 

-ˌlek(t)-ˈman,

-ˈlek(t)-mən;

ˈsē-ˌlek(t)-ˌman

: one of a board of officials elected in towns of all New England states except Rhode Island to serve as the chief administrative authority of the town

Examples of selectman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The town’s first selectman, Dan Cunningham, was quoted as saying that public disclosure is important. —Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 13 May 2025

The previous library director resigned citing political interference and alleging that the first selectman had advised her to tag all LGBTQ+ books with warning labels. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 2025

Shortly after their request, the first selectman said that town officials hadn’t heard a valid reason to fund new hires in the department. —Caitlin Clarkson Pereira, Hartford Courant, 24 Jan. 2025

The Boston Globe reported last month that Dan Koh, a former Andover, Mass., selectman and aide to former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, is considering a run. —Tribune News Service, Twin Cities, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

selectman

noun

se·​lect·​man si-ˈlek(t)-ˌman 

-mən;

-ˌlek(t)-ˈman

: one of a group of town officials elected annually in some of the New England states

Legal Definition

selectman

noun

se·​lect·​man si-ˈlekt-mən, -ˌman 

: one of a board of officials elected in towns of all New England states except Rhode Island to serve as the chief administrative authority of the town