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.

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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]

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Example Sentences

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

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

From BBC • May 13, 2026

“It happens every day of the week” at large companies, said Janine Yancey, an employment lawyer and founder of HR compliance firm Emtrain.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026

The suspect fled before police got there and remained at large until Saturday afternoon, who said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2026

Prospero could safely afford to create a single Caliban on an isolated island and let him roam at large.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Related Words

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