selectman

noun

se·​lect·​man sə-ˈlek(t)-ˌman How to pronounce selectman (audio)
-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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Under pressure from mayors and first selectmen, legislators decided to pour extra money into the towns this year that includes an additional $180 million for education and an additional $100 million to help distressed cities and towns. Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 2 May 2026 Meatball Morrissey, Michael Proctor, the Canton selectmen, the House Defendants, everybody in the Canton PD, BPD Commissioner Michael Cox, Sgt. Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 16 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for selectman

Word History

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of selectman was in 1635

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Selectman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/selectman. Accessed 13 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

selectman

noun
se·​lect·​man si-ˈlek(t)-ˌman How to pronounce selectman (audio)
-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 How to pronounce selectman (audio)
: 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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