1
a
: a citizen of a British borough
b
: a representative of a borough, corporate town, or university in the British Parliament
2
: a representative in the popular branch of the legislature of colonial Maryland or Virginia
Examples of burgess in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Every once in a while, people would put up more ribbons, and the board would take them down — with one burgess once captured in the act in a video posted on YouTube.
—
Christine Dempsey, courant.com, 10 Nov. 2021
Her husband, Colonel James L. Shellman, had been the first burgess or mayor of Westminster, a member of the Maryland legislature, and a prominent attorney.
—Frank Batavick, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, 11 June 2021
The Assembly made decisions the same way—governor, advisors and burgesses casting one vote each (the governor did wield a veto).
—Richard Brookhiser, Time, 19 Nov. 2019
But 1619 saw another: July 30 to August 4 marked the first meeting of Jamestown’s general assembly — elected burgesses, discussing and voting on their own laws, the seed of self-rule in the new world.
—Nr Editors, National Review, 12 Sep. 2019
The weather was so hot that one burgess died on the third day.
—Washington Post, 30 July 2019
Big announcement on Mondays show. -- rick burgess (@bigvox) June 2, 2017
When contacted by AL.com, Burgess declined to comment.
—Leada Gore, AL.com, 2 June 2017
Sharkey has been a member of the board of burgesses (the equivalent of selectmen or Town Council) for 10 years, but this was his first attempt at the warden's seat.
—Janice Steinhagen, Courant Community, 18 May 2017
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Christine Dempsey, courant.com, 10 Nov. 2021
Her husband, Colonel James L. Shellman, had been the first burgess or mayor of Westminster, a member of the Maryland legislature, and a prominent attorney.
—Frank Batavick, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, 11 June 2021
The Assembly made decisions the same way—governor, advisors and burgesses casting one vote each (the governor did wield a veto).
—Richard Brookhiser, Time, 19 Nov. 2019
But 1619 saw another: July 30 to August 4 marked the first meeting of Jamestown’s general assembly — elected burgesses, discussing and voting on their own laws, the seed of self-rule in the new world.
—Nr Editors, National Review, 12 Sep. 2019
The weather was so hot that one burgess died on the third day.
—Washington Post, 30 July 2019
Big announcement on Mondays show. -- rick burgess (@bigvox) June 2, 2017
When contacted by AL.com, Burgess declined to comment.
—Leada Gore, AL.com, 2 June 2017
Sharkey has been a member of the board of burgesses (the equivalent of selectmen or Town Council) for 10 years, but this was his first attempt at the warden's seat.
—Janice Steinhagen, Courant Community, 18 May 2017
Cite this Entry
“Burgess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burgess. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
burgess
noun
bur·gess
ˈbər-jəs 
1
: a citizen of a British borough
2
: a member of the lower house of the legislature of colonial Maryland or Virginia
Etymology
Middle English burgeis "citizen of a borough," from early French burgeis "resident of a town," from earlier burc "town," from Latin burgus "fortified place" — related to bourgeois
Biographical Definition
Burgess 1 of 3
biographical name (1)
Bur·gess
ˈbər-jəs
Anthony 1917–1993 originally John Anthony Burgess Wilson British writer
Burgess
2 of 3biographical name (2)
(Frank) Gelett 1866–1951 American humorist and illustrator
Burgess
3 of 3biographical name (3)
Thornton Waldo 1874–1965 American writer
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