supermajority

noun

su·​per·​ma·​jor·​i·​ty ˈsü-pər-mə-ˌjȯr-ə-tē 

-ˌjär-

plural supermajorities

: a majority (such as two-thirds or three-fifths) that is greater than a simple majority

treaty ratification requires a supermajority

Furthermore, it is about even money that soon after Congress convenes in January it will … approve a constitutional amendment to require supermajorities (three-fifths) in both houses of Congress to approve deficit spending.

—George F. Will

The company, for instance, has a supermajority clause in its articles of incorporation; 80% of the shareholders must approve any sale or merger.

—Joshua Hyatt

Examples of supermajority in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

More than eight months have passed since November’s election in which a supermajority of Massachusetts voters gave the state Auditor the go-ahead to audit the State House. —Jeanne M. Kempthorne, Boston Herald, 15 July 2025

Certain unions have taken up such votes after not meeting a threshold set by the state law: The legislation requires a supermajority of employees in a bargaining group to pay union dues, despite government agencies no longer being able to deduct union dues from their payroll. —Lauren Brensel, Sun Sentinel, 10 July 2025

The supermajority Republican legislature overturned Holcomb's veto back then. —Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 2 July 2025

Democrats have argued that by holding supermajority the GOP has total power to define what is and is not considered out of order. —Melissa Brown, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for supermajority

• exteriority
• inferiority
• superiority
• authority
• majority
• minority
• priority
• seniority
• sonority
• sorority

Legal Definition

supermajority

noun

su·​per·​ma·​jor·​i·​ty ˈsü-pər-mə-ˌjȯr-ə-tē 

: a large majority

a provision requiring a supermajority vote — say, 80 % of the common shares instead of the usual bare majority rule

—R. C. Clark