off-year election

British

noun

(in the US) an election held in a year when a presidential election does not take place

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

Just two years ago, in a similar off-year election, Democrats held the governorship in Kentucky, when Andy Beshear won a second term.

From Slate • Nov. 5, 2025

It’s an off-year election, which means turnout is likely to be low and the electorate is unpredictable.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 26, 2025

It wasn’t only Mr. Ramaswamy who was upset with Tuesday’s off-year election results.

From Washington Times • Nov. 9, 2023

Overall turnout ultimately exceeded 40% of registered voters in the county, a staggering figure for an off-year election.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 5, 2021

Every President in the off-year election urges the election of a Congress of his own party.

From Woodrow Wilson's Administration and Achievements by Lord, Frank B.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023