hustings

American  

[huhs-tingz] / ˈhʌs tɪŋz /

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

1. (before 1872) the temporary platform on which candidates for the British Parliament stood when nominated and from which they addressed the electors.

2. any place from which political campaign speeches are made.

3. the political campaign trail.

4. Also called hustings court.  a local court in certain parts of Virginia.

---

hustings British  

/ ˈhʌstɪŋz /

noun

1. (before 1872) the platform on which candidates were nominated for Parliament and from which they addressed the electors

2. the proceedings at a parliamentary election

3. political campaigning

---

Etymology

Origin of hustings

before 1050; Middle English, Old English < Old Danish hūs-thing house meeting. See house, thing ²

Explanation

Any activities connected with a political campaign or election — speeches, debates, and so on — can be called hustings. Presidential candidates often spend more than a year on the hustings. In the US, hustings are typically called "stumping" or "being on the stump." Hustings is more likely to be used in the UK and Canada to describe campaigning. An event at which candidates address voters or debate each other can be called hustings, and you can also say that a candidate is "on the hustings." The word comes from an Old Norse word, husðing, "council," from the roots hus, or "house," and ðing, "assembly."

Example Sentences

Divorced for 14 years, I’ve been out on the hustings, both on the street and, at my younger brother’s behest, online.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 3, 2025

Meanwhile, other candidates are seeking to woo their fellow MPs, with a virtual hustings taking place at 20:00.

From BBC • Sep. 10, 2025

Wearmouth, who represents Morpeth Kirkhill and is bidding for re-election, told the hustings he was "disappointed".

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2025

It is a gulf Team Jenrick have sought to emphasise, by adopting a “any time, any place, anywhere” philosophy to requests for public debates or hustings.

From BBC • Oct. 18, 2024

—Sterling, in a letter to Carlyle, objects to the use of this word by his biographer in his Sartor Resartus, calling it a hustings and newspaper word, brought in, as he had heard, by O'Connell.

From Notes and Queries, Vol. IV, Number 108, November 22, 1851 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc. by Various