hustings
Americannoun
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(before 1872) the temporary platform on which candidates for the British Parliament stood when nominated and from which they addressed the electors.
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any place from which political campaign speeches are made.
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the political campaign trail.
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Also called hustings court. a local court in certain parts of Virginia.
noun
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(before 1872) the platform on which candidates were nominated for Parliament and from which they addressed the electors
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the proceedings at a parliamentary election
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political campaigning
Etymology
Origin of hustings
before 1050; Middle English, Old English < Old Danish hūs-thing house meeting. See house, thing 2
Explanation
Any activities connected with a political campaign or election — speeches, debates, and so on — can be called hustings. Presidential candidates often spend more than a year on the hustings. In the US, hustings are typically called "stumping" or "being on the stump." Hustings is more likely to be used in the UK and Canada to describe campaigning. An event at which candidates address voters or debate each other can be called hustings, and you can also say that a candidate is "on the hustings." The word comes from an Old Norse word, husðing, "council," from the roots hus, or "house," and ðing, "assembly."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Divorced for 14 years, I’ve been out on the hustings, both on the street and, at my younger brother’s behest, online.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 3, 2025
Candidates will have the chance to make their pitch to Labour members at hustings during the party's conference, which takes place at the end of September.
From BBC • Sep. 11, 2025
The BBC understands the NEC will be presented with proposed rules including hustings for MPs on Wednesday, with nominations closing 17:00 BST on Thursday.
From BBC • Sep. 8, 2025
Following the hustings Dr Devulapalli clarified her comments, telling the BBC "there is no trans-hate in society in general".
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2025
He was striving to gain the hustings, but was still some way from it; and his chance of reaching it with his clothes on his back seemed small.
From Chippinge Borough by Weyman, Stanley J.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
