general election
Americannoun
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U.S. Politics.
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a regularly scheduled local, state, or national election in which voters elect officeholders.
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a state or national election, as opposed to a local election.
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British. an election, which must be held at any time within five years of the last election, in which constituents elect members of the House of Commons.
noun
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an election in which representatives are chosen in all constituencies of a state
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a final election from which successful candidates are sent to a legislative body Compare primary
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(in the US) a national or state election or (in Canada) a federal or provincial election in contrast to a local election
Etymology
Origin of general election
An Americanism dating back to 1710–20
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His political future and legacy may depend on the general election coming Oct.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
El-Sayed will face former Rep. Mike Rogers, a Republican, in the general election.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
His strongest turnout was during the 2001 general election, when he received 601 votes, or 1.3% of the vote share.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
The activities of the party were banned soon after she fled the country and it was not allowed to contest the February general election.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
As a whole, the general election had been less grueling than the pitched battle of the primaries.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
