at-large

1 of 2

adjective

ˈat-ˈlärj 

: relating to or being a political representative who is elected to serve an entire area rather than one of its subdivisions

an at-large city councilor

an at-large election

at large

2 of 2

phrase

1

a

: free of restraint or confinement

the escaped prisoner is still at large

b

: without a specific subject or assignment

critic at large

2

: as a whole

society at large

3

: as the political representative of or to a whole area rather than of one of its subdivisions

—used in combination with a preceding noun

a congressman-at-large

4

: at length

5

: in a general way

Examples of at-large in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The department’s rollback of services comes at a time when health outcomes have ranked among the worst in Kansas and the country at-large. — Sofi Zeman august 13, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2026

Prior to filing the Keller lawsuit, the Brewer firm had successfully initiated the move away from at-large voting in the Lewisville, Richardson, Carrollton-Farmers Branch, Irving and Grand Prairie school districts. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Aug. 2026

Phrase

Deputies are investigating a shooting Wednesday night in a Mobil gas station in northwest Miami-Dade, leaving one person injured and another at large. — Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

But Roth had a vision for how his unique combination of attributes could not just benefit his own productions but the theater world at large. — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 12 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1962, in the meaning defined above

Phrase

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for at-large

• discharge
• enlarge
• litharge
• recharge
• surcharge
• barge
• charge
• large
• marge
• sarge
• targe
• overcharge