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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

by-election

He denied he had shifted his stance since the Makerfield by-election when he promised not to "re-run" the Brexit debate.

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026

Questioned by presenter Nick Robinson on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he denied deliberately avoiding the debate, saying he had been campaigning in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

Labour has won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, seeing off a challenge from Green Party leader Zack Polanski.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

In the aftermath of a by-election, the focus is usually on the winner.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

Consequently property-owners were not only cut down to one vote in one district at a general election, but were prevented from voting in another district at a by-election.

From The Long White Cloud by William Pember Reeves

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