city father


noun

any of the officials or prominent citizens of a city.

Origin of city father

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45

Example sentences from the Web for city father

  • "We are turning into a city-father," he once said, trying to be the first to laugh.

    Cousin Pons |Honore de Balzac

British Dictionary definitions for city father

city father

noun

a person who is active or prominent in the public affairs of a city, such as an alderman