elect

1 of 3

adjective

i-ˈlekt 

1

: carefully selected : chosen

2

: chosen for salvation through divine mercy

3

a

: chosen for office or position but not yet installed

the president-elect

b

: chosen for marriage at some future time

the bride-elect

elect

2 of 3

noun

plural elect

1

: one chosen or set apart (as by divine favor)

2

elects plural : a select or exclusive group of people

elect

3 of 3

verb

elected; electing; elects

transitive verb

1

: to select by vote for an office, position, or membership

elected her class president

2

: to make a selection of

will elect an academic program

3

: to choose (something, such as a course of action) especially by preference

might elect to sell the business

intransitive verb

: to make a selection

Synonyms

Adjective

• select
• selected
• preferred
• favorite

Noun

• best
• aristocracy
• elite
• priesthood
• choice
• society
• top
• pick
• upper crust

Verb

• choose
• select
• pick

Examples of elect in a Sentence

Adjective

this elect body of students represents the best that the nation's high schools have to offer

Noun

the members of this all-American team are the elect of collegiate football

Verb

He hopes to be elected to the committee.

I've elected to study French as my foreign language.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

And a little more than half the country will call him crazy and re-elect President Obama. —Keith Kloor, Discover Magazine, 19 Aug. 2011

But, proving that ticket-splitting is alive and well in New Hampshire, four out of five voters also opted to re-elect Republican Gov. Chris Sununu. —Katie McInerney, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Nov. 2022

Noun

Members of Iranian paramilitary women forces (Basij) wear masks of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US elect Donald Trump with a red cross of it, during an anti-Israeli rally to show their solidarity with the Palestinian and Lebanese people, in Tehran, January 10, 2025. —Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025

Their 2-1 victory there solidified their status as elect champions of Italy. —Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025

Verb

Recently elected Grayslake Mayor Elizabeth Davies greeted participants at the library with welcoming remarks. —Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2025

Since being elected pope in early May, Leo has made the risks of AI on humanity a key priority of his papacy. —Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 20 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Latin electus, past participle of eligere to select, from e- + legere to choose — more at legend

Verb

Middle English, from Latin electus

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing elect

• president-elect

Rhymes for elect

• affect
• aspect
• bedecked
• bisect
• collect
• connect
• correct
• deflect
• detect
• direct
• dissect
• effect

Kids Definition

elect

1 of 3 adjective

i-ˈlekt 

1

: carefully selected

2

: chosen for office but not yet holding office

president-elect

elect

2 of 3 plural noun

: a carefully chosen group

—used with the

elect

3 of 3 verb

1

: to select by vote for an office, position, or membership

elect a senator

2

: select entry 1, choose

we elected to stay home

Legal Definition

elect

transitive verb

1

: to select by vote for an office, position, or membership

2

: to make a selection of

elected her statutory share over the gift under the will

intransitive verb

: to choose an elective share

the right of a spouse to elect against the will