: 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 2phrase
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
Seth Emerson, New York Times, 7 Dec. 2025
The Canes went on to close their season with four-straight, dominant wins to narrowly slide in as an at-large team thanks to the Alabama Crimson Tides' 21-point loss to the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, CBS Sports reported.
—Hunter Geisel, CBS News, 7 Dec. 2025
The Hurricanes have a good enough resume to get an at-large berth, but to do so would probably have to surpass Notre Dame (which Miami beat early in the season) or else Alabama (badly outmatched in a 28-7 loss to Georgia in the SEC championship game Saturday).
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 7 Dec. 2025
During the rankings reveal on ESPN's broadcast, CFP committee member Hunter Yurachek explained what caused Miami to jump Notre Dame on Sunday so that the Hurricanes and the Alabama Crimson Tide earned the final two at-large spots for the playoff.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
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Adjective
Alabama entered the weekend clinging to one of the last at-large spots in the 12-team field.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 7 Dec. 2025
The Canes went on to close their season with four-straight, dominant wins to narrowly slide in as an at-large team thanks to the Alabama Crimson Tides' 21-point loss to the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, CBS Sports reported.
—Hunter Geisel, CBS News, 7 Dec. 2025
The Hurricanes have a good enough resume to get an at-large berth, but to do so would probably have to surpass Notre Dame (which Miami beat early in the season) or else Alabama (badly outmatched in a 28-7 loss to Georgia in the SEC championship game Saturday).
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 7 Dec. 2025
During the rankings reveal on ESPN's broadcast, CFP committee member Hunter Yurachek explained what caused Miami to jump Notre Dame on Sunday so that the Hurricanes and the Alabama Crimson Tide earned the final two at-large spots for the playoff.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for at-large
Cite this Entry
“At-large.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at-large. Accessed 14 Dec. 2025.
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