suffrage

American  

[suhf-rij] / ˈsʌf rɪdʒ /

noun

• suffrages
  plural

1. the right to vote, especially in a political election.

2. a vote given in favor of a proposed measure, candidate, or the like.

3. Ecclesiastical. a prayer, especially a short intercessory prayer or petition.

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suffrage British  

/ ˈsʌfrɪdʒ /

noun

1. the right to vote, esp in public elections; franchise

2. the exercise of such a right; casting a vote

3. a supporting vote

4. a prayer, esp a short intercessory prayer

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suffrage Cultural  

1. The right to vote (see franchise). In the United States, the term is often associated with the women's movement to win voting rights. (See suffragist.)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonsuffrage
  noun
• presuffrage
  noun
• antisuffrage
  adjective
• prosuffrage
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• suffrages
  plural

Etymology

Origin of suffrage

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin suffrāgium “voting tablet, a vote cast in an assembly (for a law or candidate), an act of voting or the exercise of the right to vote, the decision reached by a vote, an expression of approval, influence or promotion on behalf of a candidate,” equivalent to Latin suffrāg(ārī) “to express public support, vote or canvass for, support” + -ium noun suffix; see -ium

Explanation

Suffrage is the right to vote in public elections. Universal suffrage means everyone gets to vote, as opposed to only men or property holders. Suffrage has nothing to do with "suffering" — unless the wrong person is elected. If you want to vote before you’re 18, fight for youth suffrage and get the law changed. In the meantime, once you turn 18, go vote! Kids grow up, of course, but it has been much harder for others to get the right to vote. For example, after trying for about a hundred years, American women were granted suffrage and voted for the first time in 1920. Think about that next time you’re tempted to stay home on election day.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

suffrage suffrages

The author places the Fowlers’ uplifting take on phrenology in the context of the era’s other reform movements—abolition, suffrage and temperance—which aimed for large-scale social transformation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 29, 2026

These ranged from facts about the history of women’s suffrage to the founding of Puerto Rico’s oldest punk band, La Experiencia de Toñito Cabanillas.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 5, 2026

Universal suffrage is, however, practised in the breakaway region of Somaliland, which declared independence in 1991 but has never been internationally recognised.

From Barron's ● Dec. 25, 2025

The suffrage coin showed a marcher with a “votes for women” sign.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 11, 2025

No one in the suffrage movement knew Woodhull well before she spoke, but she immediately became the woman to watch.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

Thomas Carlyle felt that "Ballot-boxes and Electoral suffrages" might prove a fatal threat to heroes.

From Time Magazine Archive

While the two great national parties divided the suffrages of the people, North and South, everything in his eyes was dead.

From Abraham Lincoln: Was He A Christian? by John B. Remsburg

A third reason is, that, as we descend to common life, the pleasures are simple, natural, such as all can enter into, and therefore excite a general interest, and combine all suffrages.

From Winterslow Essays and Characters Written There by William Hazlitt

The new democracies which were to take the place of the old kingdoms had to have some sanction other than the suffrages of the people.

From Behind the Mirrors The Psychology of Disintegration at Washington by Clinton W. (Clinton Wallace) Gilbert

The holy angels would guard herself and the dear innocents, if angelic suffrages could be secured by never-ceasing fervent prayer.

From The Maid of Honour, Vol. 1 (of 3) A Tale of the Dark Days of France by Lewis Wingfield