by-election

American  

[bahy-i-lek-shuhn] / ˈbaɪ ɪˌlɛk ʃən /

Or bye-election

noun

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

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by-election British  

noun

1. (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

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

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Etymology

Origin of by-election

First recorded in 1875–80; by- + election

Example Sentences

Lewis can assume leadership of the party despite not holding a seat in the House of Commons, though he will be expected to run in the next federal election or in a by-election.

From BBC

There was "no evidence" of illegal "family voting" or voter coercion at the Gorton and Denton by-election, police have concluded after an investigation.

From BBC

Labour went on to finish third in the by-election, behind the Green Party and Reform UK, in what had previously been a safe Labour seat.

From BBC

A former minister said the issue had come up in some communities in the Gorton and Denton by-election, which Labour lost last month.

From BBC

Last month she became the first Green Party candidate to win a parliamentary by-election.

From The Wall Street Journal