pocket borough

noun

: an English constituency controlled before parliamentary reform by a single person or family

Word History

First Known Use

1783, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pocket borough was in 1783

Dictionary Entries Near pocket borough

Cite this Entry

“Pocket borough.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pocket%20borough. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on pocket borough

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!