borough

noun

bor·​ough ˈbər-(ˌ)ō How to pronounce borough (audio)
ˈbə-(ˌ)rō
1
a
: a medieval fortified group of houses forming a town with special duties and privileges
b
: a town or urban constituency in Great Britain that sends a member to Parliament
c
: an urban area in Great Britain incorporated for purposes of self-government
2
a
: a municipal corporation proper in some states (such as New Jersey and Minnesota) corresponding to the incorporated town or village of the other states
b
: one of the five constituent political divisions of New York City
3
: a civil division of the state of Alaska corresponding to a county in most other states

Examples of borough in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Miranda and Ringo explored their new borough together. David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2024 In the contemporary, helter-skelter sweep of Mexico City, there is one place — in the southern borough of Xochimilco — where a vision of a watery, pre-Columbian capital may still be imagined. Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024 In the east London borough of Hackney, one councilor and his family were sent death threats due to their support for the programme. Andrew Kersley, WIRED, 19 Mar. 2024 The Banksy work appeared on a wall just off Christie Court, a block of housing run by the local authority in the borough of Islington, where poor and working-class families live alongside very wealthy residents. Annabelle Timsit, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2024 The soundtrack’s influences go from Jamaican to Hip-Hop, Funk to R&B, Salsa and so much more – the sounds that would naturally soundtrack the life of a 13-year-old coming of age in the famed borough. Rivea Ruff, Essence, 15 Mar. 2024 The counties around Chicago, Miami and the Queens and Bronx boroughs of New York City saw big outward migration as well. Chris Morris, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2024 The suit names the borough, Police Chief Philip Corbisiero and Richard Sasso Jr., a senior patrolman who recently sued the borough and the mayor, as defendants. Janelle Griffith, NBC News, 9 Feb. 2024 The harbor is surrounded by Brooklyn, Manhattan and Staten Island, three New York City boroughs. Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Middle English burgh, from Old English burg fortified town; akin to Old High German burg fortified place, and probably to Old English beorg hill — more at barrow

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of borough was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near borough

Cite this Entry

“Borough.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/borough. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

borough

noun
bor·​ough ˈbər-ō How to pronounce borough (audio)
1
a
: a town or urban area in Great Britain that sends a member to Parliament
b
: a self-governing urban area in Great Britain
2
: a self-governing town or village in some states
3
: one of the five political divisions of New York City
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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