(in England and Wales in the past) a senior member of a town, borough or county council, below the rank of a mayor, chosen by other members of the council （旧时英格兰和威尔士的）高级市政官（职位低于市长） -
(in the US, Canada and Australia) an elected member of a town or city council （美国、加拿大、澳大利亚的）市政委员会委员 Alderman Tim Evans 市政委员会委员蒂姆 · 埃文斯
Word OriginOld English aldormann (originally in the general sense ‘a man of high rank’), from aldor, ealdor ‘chief, patriarch’ (from ald ‘old’) + man. Later the sense ‘warden of a guild’ arose; then, as the guilds became identified with the ruling municipal body, ‘local magistrate, municipal officer’.