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

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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

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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

By advocating for voting early, the "No Kings" organizers hope to cut off the potential for any malfeasance once election day rolls around.

From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026

Bass, for instance, oversaw the reappointment of McDonnell’s predecessor, Michel Moore, shortly after her election and stood by him for a year before Moore’s abrupt resignation in early 2024.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

"This procedure is entirely different from what has been done in the past," former election commissioner Ashok Lavasa told AFP.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

Ahead of the 2024 election, vote officials in 17 states received suspicious packages.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

Adams foresaw a very close electoral vote, perhaps even a tie with Jefferson, which would then throw the election into the House of Representatives.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

The search took place three weeks before November’s midterm elections, in which Omar is seeking a fifth term.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

The party of incumbent presidents regularly loses seats in midterm elections, and it is common for presidents to shake up their staffs halfway through a term.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

Ahead of the elections, the BBC's Sarah Smith travelled across Iowa to speak to voters in the predominately Republican state.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

With much of the country also under the control of Islamist insurgent group Al-Shabaab, little progress has been made on organising elections beyond a few localised pockets.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

The day elections were announced, our first free ones in thirty-one years.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez

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Related Words

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

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