Hizzoners

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A term used informally to refer to city officials, especially mayors, in a somewhat humorous or derisive manner
2. Signifying a plural form of an informal title, often used in a lighthearted context
3. Describing elected leaders or high-ranking officials in urban governance, typically with a tone of mockery or sarcasm

Etymology: "Hizzoners" is the plural of "hizzoner," a playful title for a mayor, and the word is a spoken contraction of "his honor." The full phrase is the formal form of address for a mayor, and dropping the "is" and "or" sounds of "his" and "honor" into a single quick syllable gave the title its clipped, slangy shape. The plural form therefore refers to more than one such official, and it is used in a lighthearted way, as when a newspaper writer talks about several mayors at once.