popular vote
Americannoun
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the vote for a U.S. presidential candidate made by the qualified voters, as opposed to that made by the Electoral College.
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the vote for a candidate, issue, etc., made by the qualified voters, as opposed to a vote made by elected representatives.
Etymology
Origin of popular vote
An Americanism dating back to 1830–40
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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.
Combined, Labour and the Conservatives received only 34% of the popular vote.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026
President George W. Bush had won reelection with not just a plurality, but a majority of the popular vote.
From Slate • May 4, 2026
He reintroduced political parties and a free media, and was later endorsed by popular vote.
From BBC • Dec. 29, 2025
In the Buenos Aires election, the leading Peronist party, the Justicialists, won 47% of the popular vote.
From Barron's • Oct. 31, 2025
“It’s an outrage!” says McGuinty, leaning slightly toward Norma now that he sees he’s got the popular vote.
From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
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.
