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

Burnham went on to say that he will develop a clear plan for a new national care service that is then put to the public at the next general election.

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026

In this month’s election, their support fell from 20.5% to 17.5%, while the Moderates again became the largest party on the right.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

That message was hammered home Saturday for dozens of voting rights groups, community organizations and unions attending a rally to recruit and train poll watchers for the November election.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

On Sept. 10, federal authorities arrested Bhengura and charged him with voting as an alien in a federal election and making a false statement about being a U.S. citizen in order to register to vote.

From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2026

Democratic “dark horse” candidate, Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire, had won election that past November.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

But most of the cases involve immigrants like Bhengura who were on the pathway to U.S. citizenship when they voted in elections over the past decade.

From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2026

Hardt pointed out that the CDU/CSU fared far better in other regional elections earlier this year, when we spoke minutes after Merz addressed party lawmakers at a closed-door meeting in the Bundestag.

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026

Its decision ordered the elections to be held using the new map.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

Caldwell is also leaving his position as secretary of state, New Jersey’s top election official, just weeks before the coming midterm elections in November.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

I’d voted for Barack many times before, in primaries and general elections, in state-level and national races, and this trip to the polls felt no different.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Related Words

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