two-party

adjective

two-par·​ty ˈtü-ˈpär-tē How to pronounce two-party (audio)
: characterized by two major political parties of comparable strength

Examples of two-party in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web 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 Others argue for reforms within the two-party system, like more effective limits on campaign spending. David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2023 Most of the country resides in red or blue states where the outcome in a two-party race is not in doubt. Marianne Levine, Washington Post, 8 Dec. 2023 Nothing in that hierarchy, to Keyes’ knowledge, prefers two-party bookings over solo travelers. Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Nov. 2023 Ko Wen-je is chairman of the smaller Taiwan People’s Party, whose anti-establishment appeal has upended the usual two-party dynamics. Vic Chiang, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2023 This entitlement on the part of Democrats and Republicans is part of what has been long broken in this country’s two-party system. WSJ, 16 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'two-party.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of two-party was in 1923

Dictionary Entries Near two-party

Cite this Entry

“Two-party.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/two-party. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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