by-election

noun

by-elec·​tion ˈbī-ə-ˌlek-shən How to pronounce by-election (audio)
variants or less commonly bye-election
: a special election held between regular elections in order to fill a vacancy

Examples of by-election in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There are by-elections for three seats in Parliament in the coming months that could provide the Liberals with a majority government. ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026 Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) recently blocked Burnham from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election, prompting much tension. Callum Sutherland, Time, 9 Feb. 2026 Council by-elections through January 2026 show Reform winning 40% of contested seats. Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026 Somewhere in the South Director: Tan Ce Ding Producer: Anthony Chen An aimless young man becomes entangled in a local political campaign during a by-election in a small Malaysian town. Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 19 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for by-election

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of by-election was in 1853

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Cite this Entry

“By-election.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by-election. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.

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