mayor

noun

The chief executive of the municipal government of a city, borough, etc., formerly (historical) usually appointed as a caretaker by European royal courts but now usually appointed or elected locally.

(chiefly US) A largely ceremonial position in some municipal governments that presides over the city council while a contracted city manager holds actual executive power.

(figurative, humorous) A local VIP, a muckamuck or big shot reckoned to lead some local group.

A surname from Anglo-Norman.

(historical) Synonym of mair, various former officials in the Kingdom of Scotland.

(Ireland, rare, obsolete) A member of a city council.

(historical, obsolete) A high justice, an important judge.

(historical) Ellipsis of mayor of the palace, the royal stewards of the Frankish Empire. [(historical) In the Merovingian kingdoms, the king’s steward and, by the 7th century, de facto regent.]

Roots

maiormay- · Latin · greater

Synonyms for mayor

burgomastern councilmann councilwomann aldermann selectmann legislatorn syndicn chancellorn magistraten

Synonyms & related words for mayor

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of mayor — including burgomaster, councilman, councilwoman, alderman, selectman, legislator. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to mayor

Explore words related to mayor — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include mayorship, mayoral, mayoress, mayoralty, aldermen, councilperson, alcalde, councilor. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for mayor

Common synonyms for mayor include burgomaster, councilman, councilwoman, alderman, selectman, legislator, syndic, chancellor — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does mayor come from?

The word mayor breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root may-, from Latin maior (“greater”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.