plurality

[ ploo-ral-i-tee ]

noun

, plural plu·ral·i·ties.

1. the excess of votes received by the leading candidate, in an election in which there are three or more candidates, over those received by the next candidate ( majority ).
2. more than half of the whole; the majority.
3. a number greater than one.
4. fact of being numerous.
5. a large number; multitude.
6. state or fact of being plural.
7. Ecclesiastical.
   1. the holding by one person of two or more benefices at the same time; pluralism.
   2. any of the benefices so held.

plurality

/ plʊəˈrælɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state of being plural or numerous
2. maths a number greater than one
3. the excess of votes or seats won by the winner of an election over the runner-up when no candidate or party has more than 50 per cent British equivalentrelative majority
4. a large number
5. the greater number; majority
6. See pluralism
   another word for pluralism

Other Words From

• nonplu·rali·ty noun plural nonpluralities

Word History and Origins

Origin of plurality¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English pluralite, from Old French, from Late Latin plūrālitās; plural, -ity

Synonym Study

See majority.

Example Sentences

He won then with less than 38 percent of the vote, the smallest plurality of any winning gubernatorial candidate in the country.

From The Daily Beast

Even on the eve of its passage, at least a plurality  said they opposed the law.

From The Daily Beast

The misuse of conscience exemptions is threatening our hard-won plurality.

From The Daily Beast

A large plurality of American voters, and 46 percent of the people who voted in 2012, are between the ages of 18 and 44.

From The Daily Beast

The NY Governor has set off a right-wing firestorm, standing accused of seeking to stifle free speech and political plurality.

From The Daily Beast

Each society of monks elected its superior; for, in the early ages of the church, everything was done by the plurality of voices.

From Project Gutenberg

He permitted a plurality of wives, conforming in this point to the immemorial usage of the orientals.

From Project Gutenberg

The unity of darkness contains a multiple, a mysterious plurality—visible in matter, realised in thought.

From Project Gutenberg

The Jews were encouraged to indulge in a plurality of wives; but they were nowhere directed or recommended to live on alms.

From Project Gutenberg

We therefore assert the existence of several genera, and that this plurality is not accidental.

From Project Gutenberg