vote of no confidence

American  

[voht uhv noh kon-fi-duhns] / ˈvoʊt əv ˈnoʊ ˈkɒn fɪ dəns /

Also no-confidence vote

noun

1. 1. (in a legislative or similar body) a vote of confidence, from the perspective of those demanding it in the hope of a negative outcome for the party or person in power.

      The board of directors survived a vote of no confidence Wednesday.

   2. a negative outcome of such a vote; a decision by the majority of members of a legislature or similar body against the person or party in power.

      UK prime minister James Callaghan was defeated by a vote of no confidence in 1979.

2. any formal vote, as in a general election, in which the majority votes against the person or party in power.

   The election was a clear vote of no confidence in the PM—not only did his party lose, but he lost his own seat.

3. any expression of lack of support or confidence.

   He says the existence of militias in his country is a vote of no confidence in the government's ability to provide justice and security.

---

vote of no confidence British  

noun

1. Also called: vote of censure.  parliament a vote on a motion put by the Opposition censuring an aspect of the Government's policy; if the motion is carried the Government is obliged to resign

---

Etymology

Origin of vote of no confidence

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

After a year of internal furor at Harvard and a faculty vote of no confidence, Summers eventually stepped down as president.

From Salon

Sweeney was forced to fight for his position at a special general meeting in January, where he survived a vote of no confidence from the game.

From BBC

Summers resigned in 2006 after the faculty gave him a vote of no confidence following his delivery of a speech suggesting the paucity of women in science and engineering might be connected to a difference in the distribution of aptitude.

From The Wall Street Journal

That led to a vote of no confidence by the faculty, and in 2006 Summers resigned.

From The Wall Street Journal

Reform said its investigation found that Kemp had created a WhatsApp group in which making a screen recording of the meeting was discussed, alongside encouraging a colleague to be dishonest about a vote of no confidence.

From BBC