electable

American  

[ih-lek-tuh-buhl] / ɪˈlɛk tə bəl /

adjective

1. capable of, or having a reasonable chance of, being elected, as to public office.

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Other Word Forms

• electability
  noun
• reelectability
  noun
• reelectable
  adjective
• unelectable
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of electable

First recorded in 1875–80; elect + -able

Explanation

If a political candidate has the qualities that she needs to be voted into office, she's described as electable. Every four years, the Republican and Democratic parties nominate an electable presidential candidate, someone they believe has a chance of actually being elected. If you're running for student body president at school, being involved in clubs and activities and giving inspiring speeches will make you an electable contender. In the 18th century, electable was defined as "qualified to be a candidate," but by the 1960s it meant "capable of getting enough votes to win an election."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

electable

Le Pen has in recent years worked tirelessly on a strategy of "de-demonisation" to make the RN electable and distance itself from the legacy of its co-founder, her father Jean-Marie Le Pen.

From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026

The most electable progressives are instead happy warriors, a quality Ocasio-Cortez and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani have in spades.

From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2026

But voters showed no interest in the far more electable David Costello, a well-spoken environmental policy consultant and, by all appearances, a normal guy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 10, 2026

Talarico was widely viewed, including by the GOP, as the more electable candidate in November.

From Slate ● Mar. 4, 2026

Despite lingering tensions, the three men continued to work together and were the key architects of New Labour, the rebranding aimed at making the party electable.

From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2025