by-election

or bye-e·lec·tion

[ bahy-i-lek-shuhn ]

/ ˈbaɪ ɪˌlɛk ʃən /

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noun

a special election, not held at the time of a general election, to fill a vacancy in Parliament.

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Origin of by-election

First recorded in 1875–80; by- + election

Words nearby by-election

Bydgoszcz, by dint of, bye, bye-bye, bye-byes, by-election, Byelgorod-Dnestrovski, Byelorussia, Byelorussian, Byelostok, Byelovo

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use by-election in a sentence

Bush busy engaging constituents on both sides of the same-sex marriage debate ahead of the 2004 presidential election.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails|Jackie Kucinich|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Just 47 percent of Asian-Americans voted in the 2012 presidential election.
Asian-Americans Are The New Florida|Tim Mak|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The election of 1964 produced the most liberal Congress since the Democratic landslide of 1936.
Thank Congress, Not LBJ for Great Society|Julian Zelizer, Scott Porch|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The off-year special election into which Duke threw himself drew little media notice at first.
The Louisiana Racists Who Courted Steve Scalise|Jason Berry|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST

In 1989, a newly registered Republican in Louisiana named David Duke won his only election by a fluke.
The Louisiana Racists Who Courted Steve Scalise|Jason Berry|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
All along the highways and by-paths of our literature we encounter much that pertains to this "queen of plants."
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
Election of representatives from New York to consider the federal constitution held.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
John was baptizing at a large pool called Ænon-by-Saleim,—probably allegorical, meaning “Fountain of Repose.”
Solomon and Solomonic Literature|Moncure Daniel Conway
The sewing-machine made a resounding clatter in the room; it was of a ponderous, by-gone make.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
The Colonel left, and in a few days the election coming off, each candidate made his appearance at the critical German polls.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various

British Dictionary definitions for by-election

by-election

bye-election

noun

(in the United Kingdom and other countries of the Commonwealth) an election held during the life of a parliament to fill a vacant seat in the lower chamber

(in the US) a special election to fill a vacant elective position with an unexpired term

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012