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

Mason is still at-large a week later. — Jennifer Borrasso, CBS News, 23 June 2026

David Pierce is editor-at-large and Vergecast co-host with over a decade of experience covering consumer tech. — David Pierce, The Verge, 18 June 2026

In 2024, the Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden in Washington, DC, named him inaugural curator-at-large of Latin American and Latin diasporic art. — News Desk, Artforum, 17 June 2026

McDuffie, a former at-large member of the DC Council, has 34,816 votes and trails Lewis George by about 16 percentage points. — Mike Stunson, USA Today, 17 June 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