What does "mayor" mean?
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.
Mayor
/ˈmeɪ.əɹ/ name, noun
name, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: 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.
- Grammar: mayor is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: alderman, archon, bailie, boroughmaster.
- Useful contrasts: mayoral aides, council member, executive power.
- Usage evidence: I have a high regard for the integrity of our mayor.
How to use "mayor"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "mayor" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "mayor" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "mayor" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "mayor" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "mayor" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "alderman" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "mayor", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 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.
"The office of mayor has been the tomb of many political ambitions."
- 2 the head of a city government wordnet
- 3 Ellipsis of mayor of the palace, the royal stewards of the Frankish Empire. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, historical
- 4 Synonym of mair, various former officials in the Kingdom of Scotland. historical
- 5 A member of a city council. Ireland, obsolete, rare
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 A high justice, an important judge. historical, obsolete
- 7 A largely ceremonial position in some municipal governments that presides over the city council while a contracted city manager holds actual executive power. US
- 8 A local VIP, a muckamuck or big shot reckoned to lead some local group. figuratively, humorous
"In some parts the burlesque civic official was designated ‘Mayor of the Pig Market’."
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname from Anglo-Norman.
Antonyms
mayoral aidescouncil memberexecutive powernon mayoral
Example
"I have a high regard for the integrity of our mayor."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "mayor"?
Common synonyms include: alderman, archon, bailie, boroughmaster, boroughreeve, burghermaster.
How do you use "mayor" in a sentence?
I have a high regard for the integrity of our mayor.
How do you pronounce "mayor"?
Pronounced /ˈmeɪ.əɹ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English maire, from Old French maire (“head of a city or town government”), a substantivation of Old French maire (“greater”), from Latin maior (“bigger, greater, superior”), comparative of magnus (“big, great”). Doublet of major. Cognate with Old High German meior (“estate manager, steward, bailiff”) (modern German Meier), Middle Dutch meier (“administrator, steward, bailiff”) (modern Dutch meier). Displaced Old English burgealdor (“a ruler of a city, mayor, citizen”), burhġerēfa (“boroughreeve”), and portġerēfa (“portreeve”).
Etymology 2
* As an English surname, variant of Mayer. * As a Spanish surname, from the adjective mayor (“older, elder”). * Also as a Spanish surname, from the archaic noun major (“mayor, chief”), itself related to the above. * As a Jewish surname, variant of Meyer.