primary election

American  

noun

1. primary.

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primary election British  

noun

1. See primary

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Etymology

Origin of primary election

First recorded in 1785–95

Example Sentences

Newsom’s endorsement comes just days before Angelenos head to the polls in Tuesday’s primary election, where Bass is locked in a close race with challengers Nithya Raman and Spencer Pratt.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026

The millennial sex therapist eked out a narrow win in the Democratic primary election in March and will advance to a runoff with the second-place finisher, sheriff’s deputy Johnny Garcia, on Tuesday.

From Slate • May 22, 2026

Pratt trails Mayor Karen Bass in recent polling ahead of the June 2 primary election.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

A viral video can spur buzz and raise a candidate’s profile, but many of the viewers won’t be voting in the city’s June 2 primary election.

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026

Allwright, the Supreme Court ended the use of the all-white primary election; and in 1946, the Court ruled that state laws requiring segregation on interstate buses were unconstitutional.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander