elect.
1 Americanabbreviation
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electric.
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electrical.
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electrician.
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electricity.
verb (used with object)
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to choose or select by vote, as for an office.
to elect a mayor.
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to determine in favor of (a method, course of action, etc.).
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to pick out; choose.
First-year students may elect French, Spanish, or German.
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Theology. (of God) to select for divine mercy or favor, especially for salvation.
verb (used without object)
adjective
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selected, as for an office, but not yet inducted (usually used in combination following a noun).
the governor-elect.
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select or choice.
an elect circle of artists.
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Theology. chosen by God, especially for eternal life.
noun
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a person or the persons chosen or worthy to be chosen.
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Theology. a person or persons chosen by God, especially for favor or salvation.
verb
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(tr) to choose (someone) to be (a representative or a public official) by voting
they elected him Mayor
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to select; choose
to elect to die rather than surrender
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(tr) (of God) to select or predestine for the grace of salvation
adjective
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(immediately postpositive) voted into office but not yet installed
the president elect
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chosen or choice; selected or elite
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( as collective noun; preceded by the )
the elect
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Christianity
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selected or predestined by God to receive salvation; chosen
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( as collective noun; preceded by the )
the elect
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Related Words
See choose.
Other Word Forms
- electability noun
- electable adjective
- electee noun
- nonelect noun
- preelect verb (used with object)
- reelect verb (used with object)
Etymology
Origin of elect
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Latin ēlēctus “chosen” (past participle of ēligere ), equivalent to ē- “out of, from” + leg- “choose” + -tus past participle suffix; e- 1, elite
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In Brussels, the regional parliament currently has 89 elected members from 14 parties, and forging a coalition is even more complex because you need majorities among both French-speaking and Dutch-speaking groups.
From Barron's
In 2020, he won a special Senate election to fill the remainder of the late GOP Sen. John McCain’s term, and two years later he was elected to a full term.
From Salon
It led Latham to predict that "it will be no different" to previous Tests at the venue where the team that wins the toss elects to bowl first.
From Barron's
And finding an elected President who could unite Scotland England Wales and Northern Ireland would, I suspect, be a good deal harder than some republicans think.
From BBC
This could reduce its ability to finance more low-income housing and other public works, though elected leaders would likely respond by raising taxes.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.