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

Today’s stock market could drop 11% and still be no worse off than where it would stand in a typical midterm election year.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 22, 2026

Paxton, by contrast, has spent no more than $20,000 on ads in any week of the general election thus far.

From Salon ● Aug. 22, 2026

Both Mayor Karen Bass and her opponent in the November mayoral election, Councilmember Nithya Raman, have said the city should stop working with Flock.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

Otunnu stood as the presidential candidate for the opposition Uganda People's Congress in the 2011 election, losing to longtime leader Yoweri Museveni, in office since 1986.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

Roosevelt won the election, and soon after, William McKinley tapped him to run as his vice president.

From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple

Interestingly, history teaches us that it doesn’t seem to matter to the stock market which party dominates in the midterm elections; it tends to rally regardless, once premidterm uncertainty gets resolved.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 22, 2026

Yabloko is still allowed to field dozens of candidates in regional elections happening in parallel with the national vote.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

He has also released two sweeping executive orders on elections, but their major provisions have been so far blocked by federal courts.

From Salon ● Aug. 21, 2026

Submissions are due by October 19, one week before Israeli elections scheduled for October 27.

From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026

They said that new elections would be held, but that it would take some time to prepare for them.

From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood

Related Words

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