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

August polling at-large told a similar story, with one poll from Marquette Law School reporting a 40% approval rating, but Americans largely disapproved of the war in Iran and expressed economic concerns across the board. — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026

When the College Football Playoff selection committee pores over data points and debates the merits of each at-large hopeful in early December, the results of Week 2 are bound to loom large. — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Phrase

The suspect remains at large, and a description has not yet been released. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2026

Most activities that were listed in this era, including hunting, fishing, golf, horse riding, and sailing, reflected an idealized version of rural life, carried out mostly by aristocrats at large country estates. — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 8 Sep. 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