at-large

1 of 2

adjective

ˈat-ˈlärj 

: relating to or being a political representative who is elected to serve an entire area rather than one of its subdivisions

an at-large city councilor

an at-large election

at large

2 of 2

phrase

1

a

: free of restraint or confinement

the escaped prisoner is still at large

b

: without a specific subject or assignment

critic at large

2

: as a whole

society at large

3

: as the political representative of or to a whole area rather than of one of its subdivisions

—used in combination with a preceding noun

a congressman-at-large

4

: at length

5

: in a general way

Examples of at-large in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

But in February 2025, Rothkopf demoted Bordowitz to director-at-large, a role that ended that June. —Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 16 June 2026

Daniel Borenstein is editor-at-large for the opinion section. —Daniel Borenstein, Mercury News, 12 June 2026

Troy, which received one of the last four at-large bids for the 64-team NCAA Tournament, carries the flag for the little guys this year. —Eric Olson, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026

The Knights would go on to finish with a 21-12 overall record last season and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament before losing to UCLA in the first round. —Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1962, in the meaning defined above

Phrase

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for at-large

• discharge
• enlarge
• litharge
• recharge
• surcharge
• barge
• charge
• large
• marge
• sarge
• targe
• overcharge