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.
If Burnham remains the only candidate, he could in effect hold a hustings all by himself.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
This would likely be accompanied by a series of party hustings and TV debates taking place over the summer, as contenders make their pitch.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
He has vowed to liven up proceedings, saying during a hustings event that chamber business had become "dull".
From BBC ● May 14, 2026
Marshall spoke openly about the topic for the first time while addressing sixth form students at a recent school hustings event in Ysgol Plasmawr, Cardiff.
From BBC ● Jan. 23, 2026
Hatton and Banfield and their men went about, vowing to take vengeance at the hustings.
From The Great House by Weyman, Stanley John
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.
