plebiscite
noun
a direct vote of the qualified voters of a state in regard to some important public question.
plebiscites
-
pluralof plebiscite.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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.
Formerly German territories awarded to Poland and Denmark had Danish- and Polish-speaking majorities who voted decisively in League of Nations plebiscites that they did not wish to remain with Germany.
From Salon ● Aug. 19, 2023
None of the plebiscites has been binding, however, and turnout has often been low, amid boycotts by critics who support the status quo or independence.
From New York Times ● Dec. 15, 2022
Certainly, it’s not a precedent you’d want to stick to going forward—there are too many streets, and too few citywide elections, and even people who feel passionate about street design will tire of plebiscites.
From Slate ● Nov. 11, 2022
After plebiscites in 1983, one island chain became the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, thereby remaining part of the United States, adjacent to Guam, long a U.S. territory.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 12, 2022
“Write that down, Adah. If we don’t boil our water for thirty full minutes we’ll get plebiscites and what not.”
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
