plebiscite

noun

pleb·​i·​scite ˈple-bə-ˌsīt 

-sət

also -ˌsēt

: a vote by which the people of an entire country or district express an opinion for or against a proposal especially on a choice of government or ruler

plebiscitary

ple-ˈbi-sə-ˌter-ē 

pli-;

ˌple-bə-ˈsī-tə-rē

adjective

Examples of plebiscite in a Sentence

They are going to hold a plebiscite on the question of national independence.

The issue will be decided by plebiscite.

Recent Examples on the Web

In a 2024 plebiscite, 29 percent of Puerto Rican voters supported outright independence, with 12 percent opting for independence with free association, by which Puerto Rico would potentially retain some ties with the United States on the basis of bilateral treaties. —Scott Spires Britannica Editors June 3, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 June 2026

While parliament and the government are against the plan — proposed by an isolationist group supported by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party — the rules of Swiss direct democracy now require that a plebiscite must be held. —Zoe Schneeweiss, Bloomberg, 27 May 2026

More than 114,000 people signed onto the initiative, reaching the threshold for a plebiscite that will be voted on this summer. —Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 30 Apr. 2026

Democrats’ narrower-than-expected but still-decisive win in Tuesday’s plebiscite undoing the commonwealth’s own truce may or may not be the end of it. —Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French plébiscite "law or regulation put to the vote of the entire electoral body, the process of taking such a vote," borrowed from Latin plēbisscītum, plēbīscītum "resolution of a plebeian assembly, unconditionally valid as law in Rome after a secession of the plebs in 287 b.c.," from plēbis, plēbī, genitive of plēbs plebs + scītum "resolution of a popular assembly, decree," noun derivative from neuter of scītus, past participle of scīscere "to get to know, vote for, approve (a resolution)," inchoative of sciō, scīre "to know" — more at science

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for plebiscite

• acolyte
• aconite
• allanite
• alunite
• amberlite
• ammonite
• amorite
• amphitrite
• analyte
• anchorite
• andesite
• anhydrite

Kids Definition

plebiscite

noun

pleb·​i·​scite ˈpleb-ə-ˌsīt 

-sət

: a vote by which the people of an entire country or district express an opinion for or against a proposal especially on a choice of government or ruler