at large

Cultural  

1. A descriptive term for the election of public officials by an entire governmental unit rather than by subdivisions of the unit. For example, a delegate at large does not represent any specific district or locale, but speaks instead for a much wider group of people.

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at large Idioms  

1. Free, unconfined, especially not confined in prison, as in To our distress, the housebreakers were still at large . [1300s]

2. At length, fully; also, as a whole, in general. For example, The chairman talked at large about the company's plans for the coming year , or, as Shakespeare wrote in Love's Labour's Lost (1:1): “So to the laws at large I write my name” (that is, I uphold the laws in general). This usage is somewhat less common. [1400s]

3. Elected to represent an entire group of voters rather than those in a particular district or other segment—for example, alderman at large , representing all the wards of a city instead of just one, or delegate at large to a labor union convention . [Mid-1700s]

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Example Sentences

At large scales, radio data reveal that the jet forms a helical pattern as it propagates through the galaxy.

From Science Daily • Jan. 19, 2026

At large video game studios, information about game development is tightly controlled - with employees often signing agreements not to share confidential information.

From BBC • Nov. 6, 2025

At large enough numbers, they can keep other species like black bears in check.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2025

At large scales, we see stars, galaxies, supernovae and black holes; at medium scale, we see molecules, DNA, proteins, molecular machinery and life itself.

From Scientific American • Jul. 1, 2023

At large in the fog we might escape detection for a time.

From The Story of Francis Cludde by Weyman, Stanley John

Related Words

• able
• clear
• easy
• independent
• loose
• open
• unfettered
• unrestricted