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

Miami went from the last at-large berth to the national championship game. — Chris Vannini, New York Times, 6 July 2026

Graham is one of several council members expected to run next year, alongside District 1 councilwoman Dante Anderson, at-large councilwomen Dimple Ajmera and Victoria Watlington and Mayor Pro Tem James Mitchell. — Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 29 June 2026

Phrase

The suspect vehicle was found a short time later, police said, but the suspect was still at large Wednesday. — Jason Green, Mercury News, 9 July 2026

Because the injection must then be sent (or pushed) to each specific target, the scale of the attack is limited, hampering mass exploits that hit the Internet at large. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 8 July 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