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
George F. WillThe company, for instance, has a supermajority clause in its articles of incorporation; 80% of the shareholders must approve any sale or merger.—Joshua Hyatt
Joshua HyattExamples of supermajority in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Despite winning just 55% of the vote, Democrats retained a 78-40 supermajority — proof of how strongly the statewide legislative maps lock in their advantage.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
Another is that the 44-year-old Bukele—now armed with a supermajority in Congress and a Supreme Court packed with allies—has amended the constitution to allow for the indefinite re-election of the President, presumably him.
—Christopher Sabatini, Time, 30 Aug. 2025
Democrat Catelin Drey defeated Republican Christopher Prosch by 55 percent of the vote to 45 percent to flip Iowa's 1st Senate District, ending a GOP supermajority in the Iowa state Senate.
—James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Republicans have a supermajority in both chambers and could approve a map without Democratic support or even attendance — undercutting any effort by Democratic lawmakers to leave the state and block a vote on the map (a tactic Democrats employed in Texas).
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for supermajority
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.
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
Another is that the 44-year-old Bukele—now armed with a supermajority in Congress and a Supreme Court packed with allies—has amended the constitution to allow for the indefinite re-election of the President, presumably him.
—Christopher Sabatini, Time, 30 Aug. 2025
Democrat Catelin Drey defeated Republican Christopher Prosch by 55 percent of the vote to 45 percent to flip Iowa's 1st Senate District, ending a GOP supermajority in the Iowa state Senate.
—James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Republicans have a supermajority in both chambers and could approve a map without Democratic support or even attendance — undercutting any effort by Democratic lawmakers to leave the state and block a vote on the map (a tactic Democrats employed in Texas).
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for supermajority
Cite this Entry
“Supermajority.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supermajority. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal 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
R. C. ClarkLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share