major party

American  

noun

1. a political party with enough electoral strength to periodically gain control of the government or to effectively oppose the party in power.

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Etymology

Origin of major party

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

It is also one of the first times in recent British political history that neither major party has finished in the top two of such a vote.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

“It is symbolic and important that it’s something that no serious presidential candidate with a major party who got the nomination has been saying before,” Bender said in a phone interview.

From Salon • Oct. 18, 2024

The program has a long tradition of presenting a lengthy interview with the major party presidential candidates in the weeks before the November election.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 1, 2024

In 2016, Hillary Clinton became the first female presidential nominee of a major party.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 16, 2024

What’s more, he had achieved this near-victory without the support of a major party.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson