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.

---

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

---

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

County could become among the first major election jurisdictions to implement guidance or policy related to prediction markets.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

Jim Allen, the elections director of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, which had already banned election workers from directly betting on elections, earlier this year added a ban on using prediction markets to do so.

From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2026

An electorate of 79,785 registered voters have the chance to vote for one of 34 candidates standing in the Essex resort - the most ever to stand in a British election.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

"Britain needs Reform, Britain wants Reform, and Britain demands a general election," he said in a statement late Wednesday.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

Right off, I wanted to say I was sorry for the way the election thing had been all goofed up, but that there was always next time.

From "Firegirl" by Tony Abbott

And these markets have been pretty good at predicting elections in the past.

From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2026

The former Air New Zealand boss led his centre-right party to victory in the 2023 elections vowing to bring down the cost of living and reduce taxes.

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

Many Venezuelans are hopeful that the transition talks will lead to democratic elections.

From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026

There’s the Monster Raving Loony Party, established in 1982, which has now run in 11 general elections and is currently headed by someone calling himself Howling Laud Hope.

From Slate ● Aug. 12, 2026

Chief Buthelezi agreed to provisionally register for the elections in exchange for a promise to subject our differences over constitutional issues to international mediation.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

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