absolute majority

American  

noun

1. a number of votes constituting more than half of the number cast.

2. a number of voters constituting more than half of the number registered.

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absolute majority British  

noun

1. a number of votes totalling over 50 per cent, such as the total number of votes or seats obtained by a party that beats the combined opposition Compare relative majority

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Example Sentences

In order to do so, the RN would have to clinch the presidency and have either an absolute majority in Parliament or enough allies.

From BBC • Dec. 10, 2025

The fragmented nature of Dutch politics means no party wins enough seats in the 150-member parliament to form an absolute majority.

From Barron's • Nov. 3, 2025

Election results on Saturday showed that the party had fallen short of winning an absolute majority for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994.

From New York Times • Jun. 2, 2024

Unlike in many Latin American nations, there is no second round in Mexican elections: Whoever receives a plurality of votes is declared the winner, whether or not he or she garners an absolute majority.

From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2024

Possible revision of the constitution is provided for very simply: it has to be proposed as a law, and for its acceptance a resolution passed by each chamber separately, by an absolute majority, is necessary.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 8 "France" to "Francis Joseph I." by Various