two-party system

American

[too-pahr-tee] / ˈtuˌpɑr ti /

noun

Government.

a political system consisting chiefly of two major parties, more or less equal in strength.

two-party system British

noun

a condition or system in which two major parties dominate a political unit

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of two-party system

First recorded in 1900–05

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.

Since the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, a two-party system emerged with the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 5, 2025

Although he did not defeat Irfaan Ali, who was reelected president, Azruddin caused a major surprise in the South American nation's traditional two-party system by finishing second, surpassing former opposition leader Aubrey Norton.

From Barron's • Nov. 1, 2025

Asked about his own politics, he said he doesn’t quite identify with either side of the two-party system.

From Slate • Oct. 31, 2024

We already had a two-party system emerging, and that remains entrenched.

From Salon • Mar. 9, 2024

Nor do those advocates of proportional representation, who desire to maintain the two-party system by artificial means, offer any machinery adequate for the purpose.

From Proportional Representation A Study in Methods of Election by Humphreys, John H.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023