Borough: meaning, definitions and examples
๐๏ธ
borough
[ หbษrษหษกล ]
geographical area
A borough is an administrative division of a city or town, often with its own government. In some places, such as the United Kingdom, it designates a town or district that has local governance. In the United States, it may refer to a self-governing township or a subdivision of a city.
Synonyms
district, municipality, township
Examples of usage
- New York City is made up of five boroughs.
- Each borough has its own council.
- The borough is known for its cultural diversity.
- She lives in a borough outside of London.
Translations
Translations of the word "borough" in other languages:
๐ต๐น bairro
๐ฎ๐ณ เคจเคเคฐ
๐ฉ๐ช Bezirk
๐ฎ๐ฉ kecamatan
๐บ๐ฆ ัะฐะนะพะฝ
๐ต๐ฑ dzielnica
๐ฏ๐ต ๅบ
๐ซ๐ท arrondissement
๐ช๐ธ barrio
๐น๐ท mahalle
๐ฐ๐ท ๊ตฌ
๐ธ๐ฆ ุญู
๐จ๐ฟ ฤtvrลฅ
๐ธ๐ฐ mestskรก ฤasลฅ
๐จ๐ณ ๅบ
๐ธ๐ฎ ฤetrt
๐ฎ๐ธ hverfi
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะฐัะดะฐะฝ
๐ฌ๐ช แ แแแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ bรถlmษ
๐ฒ๐ฝ barrio
Word origin
The term 'borough' has its roots in the Old English word 'burh,' meaning a fortified place or enclosure. This evolved into the Middle English 'borh,' which referred to a town or a district with specific rights and privileges, particularly in terms of self-governance and legal jurisdiction. The concept of boroughs became more structured with the establishment of local governments in medieval England. Initially, boroughs were often granted charters by the monarchy, allowing them to have some level of autonomy in determining their governance and organization. As urban areas expanded during the Industrial Revolution, the definition and function of boroughs evolved, leading to the modern understanding of them as subdivisions of larger cities or towns. In the United States, the adoption of the term also reflected local governance structures and has been influenced by the British model, despite varying meanings across different states.