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

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

A total of nine parties are running and no single one is expected to come close to winning enough votes to reach the absolute majority of 68 seats in the chamber.

From Seattle Times • May 11, 2024

The loyal Boers, who were at that time in an absolute majority throughout the colony, were many of them moving across the frontier, to escape the conflict which they saw approaching.

From The Young Colonists A Story of the Zulu and Boer Wars by Henty, G.A.