by-election

American  

[bahy-i-lek-shuhn] / ˈbaɪ ɪˌlɛk ʃən /

Or bye-election

noun

1. a special election, not held at the time of a general election, to fill a vacancy in Parliament.

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by-election British  

noun

1. (in the United Kingdom and other countries of the Commonwealth) an election held during the life of a parliament to fill a vacant seat in the lower chamber

2. (in the US) a special election to fill a vacant elective position with an unexpired term

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Etymology

Origin of by-election

First recorded in 1875–80; by- + election

Example Sentences

But in the wake of the Gorton and Denton by-election in February she said it was "appalling that separatist campaigning was carried out in Urdu by the Green Party".

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

Burnham and Kenyon, a plumber and local councillor, were among five of the 14 candidates in the by-election who appeared on Question Time in Makerfield.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

The by-election was called after then-Labour MP Josh Simons stepped down, a move he said was to allow Burnham to run for Parliament and potentially mount a leadership bid.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

The Conservative candidate for the Makerfield by-election has promised to dedicate his time to championing the community rather than using the contest as a "stepping stone".

From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026

And when there has been a by-election and both sides claim the moral victory I have no doubt that the men in signal-boxes think that murder is taking place in our carriage.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 146, February 25, 1914 by Various