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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:

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

A concept called direct primary care is also steadily growing.

From Washington Post Aug. 18, 2022

But the reform element knew little or nothing of the details of direct primary legislation.

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

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