selectman

noun se·lect·man \ sə-ˈlek(t)-ˌman , -ˌlek(t)-ˈman , -ˈlek(t)-mən ; ˈsē-ˌlek(t)-ˌman \

|Updated on: 2 Aug 2018

Definition of selectman

: 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

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Recent Examples of selectman from the Web

So is Mary Glassman, the former Simsbury first selectman who edged Hayes for endorsement in the 5th Congressional District.

— neil vigdor, courant.com, "Ganim Hopes Women On Ballot Next To Him Will Boost His Chances On Primary Day," 9 July 2018
The screening committee will conduct closed session interviews with some of those remaining applicants in mid-August, before forwarding a list of three or four finalists to selectmen.

— john laidler, BostonGlobe.com, "Consulting firm hired to help find new Lexington town manager," 2 July 2018
Meanwhile, selectmen as early as their Monday meeting are expected to name an acting town manager to serve from the time Valente departs until the new manager begins, which the board hopes will be mid to late September.

— john laidler, BostonGlobe.com, "Consulting firm hired to help find new Lexington town manager," 2 July 2018
Finance Board Chairman Scott Davis said that both the school board and the selectmen were instructed to come in with a zero-increase budget proposal, a challenge both boards managed to meet.

— janice steinhagen, Courant Community, "School, Town Budgets Pass Public Hearing Hurdle," 17 Apr. 2018
Preston is governed by a board of selectman, which sets the town's policy agenda, and a town meeting, which acts as a legislative body.

— ryan w. miller, USA TODAY, "Help wanted: Teachers. Police. Even mayors: Jobs crucial to society plagued by discontent," 22 Mar. 2018
But selectmen said that investment would be recovered through savings in energy costs in several years.

— ken byron, Courant Community, "Canton Officials Consider Solar Panels For Two Schools," 20 Mar. 2018
Low pay and job insecurity may have contributed to no candidate rising to take Congdon's seat, the first selectman said.

— ryan w. miller, USA TODAY, "Help wanted: Teachers. Police. Even mayors: Jobs crucial to society plagued by discontent," 22 Mar. 2018
Svensson is a former selectman and current chairman of the Municipal Light Board.

— john laidler, BostonGlobe.com, "Selectmen’s race tops Danvers election ballot," 5 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'selectman.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of selectman

1635

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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Law Dictionary

selectman

noun se·lect·man \ si-ˈlekt-mən, -ˌman \

legal Definition of selectman

: 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