to choose or select by vote, as for an office.
to elect a mayor.
to determine in favor of (a method, course of action, etc.).
to pick out; choose.
First-year students may elect French, Spanish, or German.
Theology. (of God) to select for divine mercy or favor, especially for salvation.
selected, as for an office, but not yet inducted (usually used in combination following a noun).
the governor-elect.
select or choice.
an elect circle of artists.
Theology. chosen by God, especially for eternal life.
a person or the persons chosen or worthy to be chosen.
Theology. a person or persons chosen by God, especially for favor or salvation.
electric.
electrical.
electrician.
electricity.
(tr) to choose (someone) to be (a representative or a public official) by voting
they elected him Mayor
to select; choose
to elect to die rather than surrender
(tr) (of God) to select or predestine for the grace of salvation
(immediately postpositive) voted into office but not yet installed
the president elect
chosen or choice; selected or elite
( as collective noun; preceded by the )
the elect
Christianity
selected or predestined by God to receive salvation; chosen
( as collective noun; preceded by the )
the elect
See choose.
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Latin ēlēctus “chosen” (past participle of ēligere ), equivalent to ē- “out of, from” + leg- “choose” + -tus past participle suffix; see e- 1, elite
To elect is to choose. A group of citizens may elect the next president, or you may just elect to stay home during the blizzard. Most famously, in the political sense, elect means to choose a person for public office, usually via an election. It also means to choose a particular course in life of major consequence. You probably don't elect to drink Pepsi over Coke, but you do elect to study a particular major at college, or sign up for military service.
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Instead of receiving cash, eligible easyJet shareholders would be offered to elect their existing shareholding into the vehicle through which Apollo Funds would hold their investment.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 10, 2026
Those include grocery vouchers at Food4Less, housing vouchers for those who elect to relocate during cleanup, cash assistance through prepaid cards and support for utility bills.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 10, 2026
Dr Ippokratis Sarris, chair elect of the British Fertility Society, recommended more research and said pregnancies could be riskier for older women, meaning couples should have thorough checks and counselling when embarking on fertility treatment.
From BBC • Jul. 6, 2026
Without equal citizenship, equal voting rights, and equal opportunity to elect representatives of one’s choice, republican government was an impossibility.
From Slate • Jun. 3, 2026
He walked as if he were in the company of the elect, so that even Mrs. Cobb would have had to stretch to find something to remark on.
From "Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy" by Gary D. Schmidt
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.
