election

American  

[ih-lek-shuhn] / ɪˈlɛk ʃən /

noun

• elections
  plural

1. the selection of a person or persons for office by vote.

   In 2018, elections for governors were held in 36 states.

2. the status of being or having been elected.

   his fading chances for election;

   the international coverage of her election.

3. a public vote upon a proposition submitted.

   The official results of today’s election regarding use of public lands will not be reported any earlier than tomorrow.

4. the act of electing.

   There is no evidence to suggest violation of the rules of election.

5. Theology. the choice by God of individuals, as for a particular work or for favor or salvation.

   Election is not a hidden decree, but the decree revealed in Christ.

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election British  

/ ɪˈlɛkʃən /

noun

1. the selection by vote of a person or persons from among candidates for a position, esp a political office

2. a public vote on an official proposition

3. the act or an instance of choosing

4. Christianity

   1. the doctrine of Calvin that God chooses certain individuals for salvation without reference to their faith or works

   2. the doctrine of Arminius and others that God chooses for salvation those who, by grace, persevere in faith and works

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonelection
  noun
• reelection
  noun
• self-election
  noun
• subelection
  noun
• interelection
  adjective
• postelection
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• elections
  plural

Etymology

Origin of election

First recorded in 1225–75; from Latin ēlēctiōn- (stem of ēlēctiō ), equivalent to ēlēct(us) ( see elect) + -iōn- noun suffix ( see -ion); replacing Middle English eleccioun, from Anglo-French

Explanation

An election is a vote to decide who will hold a political office. Every four years, there is the election of a new U.S. President. If you have been following politics for long, you'll hear about plenty of elections: votes held every few years for political office. Mayors, governors, judges, and the President are all put in office by elections. You can also speak of the election of a winner: for example, "Her election was close." An election can also mean any kind of choice, such as "his election to move to Vermont." All the meanings of this word have to do with exercising choice.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

election elections

However, they see equities experiencing a relief rally about 30 days before the election, which can often reverse the previous period of volatility into the end of the year.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026

The leading opposition candidate in last Thursday's presidential election, Brian Mundubile, was also found at the scene of the raid in the capital, Lusaka, according to the country's top civil servant Patrick Kangwa.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

“In the olden times, California liked to see itself as the epicenter of good-government reform,” said Jessica Levinson, an election law professor at Loyola Marymount University.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026

Compared with years without a midterm election, stocks, credit and rates all underperform, they said, with investors acting on uncertainty about 50 working days before voting starts.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026

Nikita Khrushchev followed the election with great interest.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

“In order for the citizens to trust their government, they must have confidence that our elections are fair and free.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026

International observers of Zambia's elections said Saturday the poll was marred by claims of intimidation, abductions and an hours-long pause in the vote count.

From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026

“Those concerns are playing out in real time, with far-reaching consequences,” said Dax Goldstein, a director at the States United Democracy Center, a nonprofit group that works to build confidence in elections.

From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026

He recently stepped down from his job working for the party and is preparing to run for Mexico’s national assembly in midterm elections next year, representing his home state of Tabasco.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

Back before the elections, I would’ve said I wanted to be vice president more than anything.

From Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff

Related Words

• appointment
• ballot
• balloting
• decision
• poll
• primary
• referendum
• selection