1. Citizens or inhabitants of a borough or town, especially those with full rights and privileges.
Usage: plural form of burgess; chiefly historical or British
2. Members of a town council or representatives elected to a legislative body from a borough or town.
Usage: historical; chiefly British

Examples

• The burgesses of the town gathered to discuss new trade regulations.
• In medieval England, burgesses held considerable influence in local governance.
• The burgesses elected representatives to Parliament.
• Wealthy burgesses often served as merchants and landowners.
• The charter granted the burgesses certain rights and freedoms.
• Colonial Virginia's House of Burgesses was an early representative assembly.