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vote of confidence

American  
[voht uhv kon-fi-duhns] / ˈvoʊt əv ˈkɒn fɪ dəns /
Also confidence vote

noun

    1. (in a legislative or similar body) a formal vote, especially after the introduction of a crucial and controversial piece of policy, to determine whether the majority of members are still prepared to allow the party or person in power to continue governing.

      The Opposition called for a vote of confidence in parliament yesterday.

      With the Tory Party deeply divided, the PM lost a vote of confidence on his Irish policy and had to resign.

    2. a favorable outcome of such a vote for the person or party in power.

      The Knesset gave a slim vote of confidence to the eight-party coalition government.

  1. any formal vote in favor of a person or party already in power, a policy or program, etc..

    Despite record low turnout, he called the election result a vote of confidence for his party.

  2. any expression of support.

    Your subscription to our magazine is a vote of confidence for our advocacy work.


Etymology

Origin of vote of confidence

First recorded in 1730–40

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.

However, the purchase of Newcastle, who have finished bottom of the top division for the past three seasons, by energy drink giant Red Bull last summer was a significant vote of confidence.

From BBC

Humanists UK chief executive Andrew Copson said it was a "momentous vote of confidence for compassion, dignity, and choice at the end of life".

From BBC

The announcement is a “clear and deliberate vote of confidence from management,” Materne added.

From MarketWatch

For Astera Labs, landing a multibillion-dollar commitment from Amazon.com is a vote of confidence for its technology — but such a deal isn’t without its risks.

From MarketWatch

The founders of the biggest private-equity firms seldom sell their shares, hanging on to them as a vote of confidence in their companies.

From The Wall Street Journal