swing state

American  

[swing steyt] / ˈswɪŋ ˌsteɪt /

noun

U.S. Politics.

1. a state of the U.S. in which the Democratic and Republican candidates both have a good chance of winning and that is considered key to the outcome of a presidential election.

   the swing states of Ohio and Indiana.

---

Etymology

Origin of swing state

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

swing state

But Ossoff, who’s running for reelection in a swing state that Trump won twice, is a deliberate and relentlessly on-message communicator—sometimes to the point of looking and sounding a little scripted.

From Slate ● Aug. 21, 2026

The U.A.E. was a geopolitical swing state worth bringing further into the American orbit, they argued.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026

"They know Rome wasn't built in a day," Vance said in the key, blue-collar swing state of Pennsylvania on Tuesday.

From Barron's ● Dec. 17, 2025

National and swing state polls have tightened as 5 November draws closer, so there could be very narrow margins of victory in several places, which may require votes to be recounted.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2024

The rally was intended as a show of force — bringing celebrity firepower to the biggest city in the most important swing state that was also the birthplace of American democracy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2024