elector

American  

[ih-lek-ter] / ɪˈlɛk tər /

noun

1. a person who elects or may elect, especially a qualified voter.

2. a member of the Electoral College of the U.S.

3. (usually initial capital letter) one of the German princes entitled to elect the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.

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elector British  

/ ɪˈlɛktə /

noun

1. someone who is eligible to vote in the election of a government

2. (often capital) a member of the US electoral college

3. (often capital) (in the Holy Roman Empire) any of the German princes entitled to take part in the election of a new emperor

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Other Word Forms

• electorship noun
• nonelector noun

Etymology

Origin of elector

1425–75; late Middle English electo ( u ) r < Late Latin ēlēctor chooser, equivalent to eleg-, variant stem of ēligere ( elect ) + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

Earlier this month, she told a constituent who had asked why she only communicated in English that "almost every elector speaks English".

From BBC

From an initial 11 presidential hopefuls – one for every 7,000 electors – eight remain in the race.

From BBC

He is one of three ecclesiastical staff allowed to stay in the Sistine Chapel despite not being a cardinal elector, even though they will have to leave the premises during the counting of the votes.

From BBC

Even so, they are barred from communicating with electors.

From BBC

Around a third of electors in England are eligible to vote, and more than 1,600 councillors will be elected.

From BBC

Related Words

• constituent