minor party

noun

: a political party whose electoral strength is so small as to prevent its gaining control of a government except in rare and exceptional circumstances

Examples of minor party in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Structurally, the law is unfair for Libertarians, Greens, other minor parties, and all NPA voters. Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026 The agreement now requires ratification by parliament and is expected to pass after the opposition New Zealand Labour Party backed it, despite resistance from coalition partner and populist minor party New Zealand First. ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026 Limits on minor parties That brings us to the second possibility: constraints on third parties, or their absence. Bert Johnson, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2026 Some fears exist among the British right that Reform’s success could still be squashed by an alliance of Labour, the Green Party, the Lib Dems, and a confederation of minor parties if a pact is not struck with the Conservatives, assuring a unified right-wing bloc. Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 26 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for minor party

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of minor party was in 1949

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Minor party.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minor%20party. Accessed 12 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

minor party

noun
: a political party whose electoral strength is so small as to prevent its gaining control of a government except in rare and exceptional circumstances
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster