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direct primary

American  

noun

U.S. Politics.
  1. a primary in which members of a party nominate its candidates by direct vote.


direct primary British  

noun

  1. government a primary in which voters directly select the candidates who will run for office

"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

direct primary Cultural  
  1. An election in which voters choose candidates to run on a party's ticket in a subsequent election for public office.


Etymology

Origin of direct primary

First recorded in 1895–1900


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.

See Examples For:

Instead of billing insurance for routine office visits, they’re charging patients directly through a monthly or annual membership fee, a model known as direct primary care, or DPC.

From Slate ● Aug. 22, 2026

The law also enables people to spend HSA dollars on monthly or annual fees for direct primary care.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 30, 2026

The 2026 expansion includes individuals with bronze or catastrophic plans through the ACA marketplace and those using direct primary care or telehealth services.

From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2025

Binance could also be exposed to direct "primary" sanctions if the company has what the U.S.

From Reuters ● Nov. 4, 2022

But it is noticeable that in Oregon and other States where such wholesome direct primary measures have become laws the legislative candidate signs the pledge to abide by the mandate of the electors.

From Story of the Session of the California Legislature of 1909 by Franklin Hichborn

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