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Synonyms

minor party

American  

noun

  1. a political party with so little electoral strength that its chance of gaining control of the government is slight.

Etymology

Origin of minor party

First recorded in 1650–60

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.

Enforcing the rule also would be a major headache for TV stations as all legally qualified candidates on minor party tickets could ask for airtime.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 23, 2026

Seymour, who is Māori, heads up the minor party that formed a coalition government with other conservative parties in 2023.

From Salon • Nov. 15, 2024

Mr. Kennedy, 70, is on the ballot in Utah as an independent, and two weeks ago he gained access to the ballot in Michigan, a critical battleground state, through the nomination of another minor party.

From New York Times • Apr. 30, 2024

The poll put minor party New Zealand First at 4%, still below the threshold of being able to get back into parliament without a candidate being elected.

From Reuters • Aug. 21, 2023

At the time it was the best showing for a minor party candidate in state history.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 18, 2023

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.