election

American  

[ih-lek-shuhn] / ɪˈlɛk ʃən /

noun

• elections
  plural

1. the selection of a person or persons for office by vote.

   In 2018, elections for governors were held in 36 states.

2. the status of being or having been elected.

   his fading chances for election;

   the international coverage of her election.

3. a public vote upon a proposition submitted.

   The official results of today’s election regarding use of public lands will not be reported any earlier than tomorrow.

4. the act of electing.

   There is no evidence to suggest violation of the rules of election.

5. Theology. the choice by God of individuals, as for a particular work or for favor or salvation.

   Election is not a hidden decree, but the decree revealed in Christ.

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election British  

/ ɪˈlɛkʃən /

noun

1. the selection by vote of a person or persons from among candidates for a position, esp a political office

2. a public vote on an official proposition

3. the act or an instance of choosing

4. Christianity

   1. the doctrine of Calvin that God chooses certain individuals for salvation without reference to their faith or works

   2. the doctrine of Arminius and others that God chooses for salvation those who, by grace, persevere in faith and works

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonelection
  noun
• reelection
  noun
• self-election
  noun
• subelection
  noun
• interelection
  adjective
• postelection
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• elections
  plural

Etymology

Origin of election

First recorded in 1225–75; from Latin ēlēctiōn- (stem of ēlēctiō ), equivalent to ēlēct(us) ( see elect) + -iōn- noun suffix ( see -ion); replacing Middle English eleccioun, from Anglo-French

Explanation

An election is a vote to decide who will hold a political office. Every four years, there is the election of a new U.S. President. If you have been following politics for long, you'll hear about plenty of elections: votes held every few years for political office. Mayors, governors, judges, and the President are all put in office by elections. You can also speak of the election of a winner: for example, "Her election was close." An election can also mean any kind of choice, such as "his election to move to Vermont." All the meanings of this word have to do with exercising choice.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

election elections

Marques's office told AFP that he intends to submit the matter to the full court after the runoff election on October 25 between Flavio Bolsonaro and Lula.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026

Fain, a former Chrysler plant electrician from Kokomo, Ind., had been a virtually unknown staffer at the union’s Detroit headquarters when he narrowly won the top job in a runoff election in 2023.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

Data from Peru's elections office showed a little over 700 people had participated in the election, with Simeon securing around 34% of the vote.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

"I'll be heading to the state chancellery in December with the one who's faithfully accompanied me through the election campaign too," he wrote.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026

On the one hand, the election of Barack Obama to the presidency creates an extraordinary opportunity for those seeking to end the system of mass incarceration in America.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Palestinian factions including Abbas's Fatah party and its longtime Islamist rival Hamas had agreed to recommend the elections be postponed at a meeting in Cairo on Wednesday, a source who was present told AFP.

From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2026

With less than a month before November's midterm elections, early voting has already started in many states.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

She was baffled by the notice from the elections office.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

Hartnett highlights the potential allure of Latin American markets, especially after the market-friendly outcome of the first round of Brazilian elections.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026

After what seemed like weeks, I went back to school, by which time the elections had been won, the breakfasts ceased, and my classmates had found someone else to tease.

From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago

Related Words

• appointment
• ballot
• balloting
• decision
• poll
• primary
• referendum
• selection