Legal Definitions - borough

Definition: A borough is a town or township that has a municipal charter. This means it has its own local government and can make its own laws. For example, New York City is divided into five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island.

In English law, a borough is a chartered town that originally sent a member to Parliament. This means that the town had a special status and was allowed to elect someone to represent them in the government.

In history, a borough was a fortified or important town. This means that the town was protected by walls or other defenses, or it was an important center of trade or culture.

Examples:

• New York City is divided into five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Each borough has its own government and elected officials.
• In England, the town of Rye was a borough because it had a charter that allowed it to send a member to Parliament.
• The town of York was an important borough in medieval times because it was a center of trade and had strong walls to protect it from invaders.

The examples illustrate the different meanings of the word "borough." In the first example, the boroughs are modern-day towns with their own governments. In the second example, a borough is a town with a special status in the government. In the third example, a borough is an important town with defenses or cultural significance.