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

See Examples For:

by-election

But with the Reform leader facing both a by-election and questions over his finances, some in his party worry that if Burnham moves too fast, Farage could miss his one great chance to become PM.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

He was parachuted into parliament in a by-election last month to take his place on the green benches and, weeks later, at the top of the greasy pole.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

His resignation came days before Andy Burnham's pivotal by-election in Makerfield, adding to the sense that Sir Keir's premiership was falling apart.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

For his part, during his by-election campaign, Burnham warned voters that Britain risked drifting towards the "polarised, poisonous politics" of the United States, where "people in communities don't work together any more".

From Barron's ● Jul. 19, 2026

The removal to the House of Lords of the Marquis of Hamilton, the member for Derry city, created a vacancy which was filled at the ensuing by-election by a Liberal Home Ruler.

From Ulster's Stand For Union by McNeill, Ronald John