Definition of: alderman

(ôl′dər·mən) noun plural ·men
1. A member of a municipal legislative body, who usually also exercises certain judicial functions.
2. In England and Ireland, a member of the higher branch of a town council, as in a borough, whose office corresponds to that of the bailie in Scotland. [OE ealdorman head man]
—al′der·man·cy (-mən·sē), al′der·man·ship′ noun
—al′der·man′ic (-man′ik) adjective