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 clean-up and rebuilding has been a multi-pronged effort that involved federal, state, and local officials, including those from the state transportation department, mayors and first selectmen, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, known as FEMA. —Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 19 Aug. 2025

Jon Fetherston, a former emergency shelter director and Ashland selectman, endorsed Republican candidate for governor Mike Kennealy, a signal that Kennealy’s campaign is looking to local conservatives who have amassed large followings on social media to boost their message. —Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald, 30 May 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