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

Once sworn in, Holladay will become the 20th Democrat in the 100-member House, only making a small dent in the Republican supermajority. —Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026

California Democrats, who hold a supermajority in the Legislature, are exploring policy proposals to limit federal immigration agents’ presence at polling places. —Lia Russell march 5, Sacbee.com, 5 Mar. 2026

Per Idaho law, these measures typically require a two-thirds supermajority to pass; in the poll, 57% of those questioned were in favor. —Mark Dee march 3, Idaho Statesman, 4 Mar. 2026

But the tone of the October argument suggested that the court's conservative supermajority is likely to continue undercutting the 1965 Voting Rights Act. —Zoe Sobel, NPR, 2 Mar. 2026

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