at large

Cultural  

1. A descriptive term for the election of public officials by an entire governmental unit rather than by subdivisions of the unit. For example, a delegate at large does not represent any specific district or locale, but speaks instead for a much wider group of people.

---

at large Idioms  

1. Free, unconfined, especially not confined in prison, as in To our distress, the housebreakers were still at large . [1300s]

2. At length, fully; also, as a whole, in general. For example, The chairman talked at large about the company's plans for the coming year , or, as Shakespeare wrote in Love's Labour's Lost (1:1): “So to the laws at large I write my name” (that is, I uphold the laws in general). This usage is somewhat less common. [1400s]

3. Elected to represent an entire group of voters rather than those in a particular district or other segment—for example, alderman at large , representing all the wards of a city instead of just one, or delegate at large to a labor union convention . [Mid-1700s]

---

Example Sentences

There were also differences between legal experts — those most intimately involved in the judicial system — and the public at large.

From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2026

Whatever the case, the fact that he continues to struggle to break through while many far lesser talents succeed says something about both the industry and our culture at large.

From Salon • May 15, 2026

Low, who has been indicted in the US, has denied wrongdoing but remains at large.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

Two other suspects are said to be at large, according to animal rights activists.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

“Which would be a loss to society at large, yes? So sometimes it's ethical not to reveal a secret. Nicholas?”

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

Related Words

• able
• clear
• easy
• independent
• loose
• open
• unfettered
• unrestricted