electorate

[ih-lek-ter-it]

noun

1. the body of persons entitled to vote in an election.

2. the dignity or territory of an Elector of the Holy Roman Empire.

electorate

/ ɪˈlɛktərɪt /

noun

1. the body of all qualified voters

2. the rank, position, or territory of an elector of the Holy Roman Empire

3. the area represented by a Member of Parliament

4. the voters in a constituency

Word History and Origins

Origin of electorate¹

First recorded in 1665–75; elector + -ate ³

Example Sentences

But some Labour figures wonder if as many as 80 more could choose not to officially back anyone, shrivelling the electorate.

From BBC

Democrats and the larger pro-democracy movement need to study and borrow from the GOP’s playbook to win the hearts and minds of the electorate and defeat Trumpism.

From Salon

Many in the electorate were still furious over the corruption scandal that implicated senior members of the LDP, and were struggling to deal with rising inflation and a cost of living crisis.

From BBC

He accused other political parties of telling "the electorate what they think the electorate want to hear without every intending to deliver it".

From BBC

Support for Reform might be thought to be simply a protest vote by an electorate fed up with slow growth, an ailing health service, and high levels of immigration.

From BBC

Related Words

• constituency 
• voter