two-party

adjective

two-par·​ty ˈtü-ˈpär-tē 

: characterized by two major political parties of comparable strength

Examples of two-party in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In October 2022, Jolie filed a cross-complaint that argued that the couple had no agreement regarding two-party consent to the sale of either party’s interest in the property. —Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024

In 1992, the two-party vote in the average congressional or legislative district different from the presidential vote by 6 percentage points or more. —Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 27 Mar. 2024

Partisan deadlock is one structural impediment to a sudden authoritarian breakthrough; so are the anti-democratic filibuster, the sclerotic two-party system, and the lamentably high bar to amending the Constitution. —Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2024

In part, this is because state laws and court rulings have actually made qualification somewhat easier for presidential contenders running outside the two-party system than for similar candidates who want to seek offices such as the U.S. House of Representatives. —Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 21 Mar. 2024

In any event, many political observers believe that still won’t change the usual two-party domination. —Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024

If price analysis determines a price is unbalanced – where one or more line items are significantly overstated or understated – a contracting officer will proceed to a two-party analysis to consider the risk of paying unreasonably high prices and the risk of unsuccessful performance. —Bradford Betz, Fox News, 3 Mar. 2024

Besides creating our two-party system, how about a presidency that corresponded with the worst depression the U.S. had experienced up to that time? —David Morgan, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2024

The two-party system is clearly to blame for amplifying anti-democratic populists. —Gabriel Levin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined above