election

noun

elec·​tion i-ˈlek-shən 

1

a

: an act or process of electing

the election of a new governor

b

: the fact of being elected

her election to the Senate

2

: predestination to eternal life

3

: the right, power, or privilege of making a choice

Synonyms

• choice
• choosing
• picking
• selecting
• selection

Choose the Right Synonym for election

choice, option, alternative, preference, selection, election mean the act or opportunity of choosing or the thing chosen.

choice suggests the opportunity or privilege of choosing freely.

freedom of choice

option implies a power to choose that is specifically granted or guaranteed.

the option of paying now or later

alternative implies a need to choose one and reject another possibility.

equally attractive alternatives

preference suggests a choice guided by one's judgment or predilections.

a preference for cool weather

selection implies a range of choice.

a varied selection of furniture

election implies an end or purpose which requires exercise of judgment.

doing a tax return forces certain elections on you

Examples of election in a Sentence

He's favored to win the election.

The scandal may affect his chances for election.

Her election to the Senate was a surprise to many.

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, Senate Bill 10, which would let voters decide whether to push Kentucky elections for statewide offices back a year to fall in line with presidential races, advanced through committee to the Senate floor. —Rebecca Grapevine, The Courier-Journal, 13 Jan. 2024

The Taiwan party toughest on China has a strong lead as election nears Early on, Lai was idealistic and quite serious about his work. —Vic Chiang, Washington Post, 13 Jan. 2024

Senior Biden administration officials condemned any attempt to interfere with Taiwan’s election. —Jenny Goldsberry, Washington Examiner, 13 Jan. 2024

Fontes praised Penzone for his efforts in a tense election year. —The Arizona Republic, 12 Jan. 2024

Once these yahoos were kicked out of the building, Congress calmly affirmed Mr. Biden’s election. —Tom McClintock, WSJ, 12 Jan. 2024

Speaker Johnson and dozens of other House Republicans filed a brief to the Supreme Court in support of a Texas lawsuit that sought to nullify Pennsylvania's presidential election results. —Arden Farhi, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2024

While a number of states in the region have gone from moderate to MAGA, Iowa had the largest swing of voters with a total of 31 counties that flipped from voting for Obama in the 2012 election, to Trump just four years later. —Sarah Herndon, ABC News, 12 Jan. 2024

In the run-up to the 2020 election, retailer Walmart temporarily pulled guns and ammunition from store shelves in anticipation of potential unrest. —Richard Vanderford, WSJ, 1 Jan. 2024

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Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing election

• bye-election
• general election
• by-election
• pre-election

• bye-election
• general election
• by-election
• pre-election

Kids Definition

election

noun

elec·​tion i-ˈlek-shən 

1

: an act or process of electing

especially : the process of voting to choose a person for office

the election of a new governor

2

: the fact of being elected

her election to the presidency

Legal Definition

election

noun

elec·​tion

1

a

: the act or process of electing

b

: an instance of the electorate voting for candidates for an elective office

c

: the fact of being elected

2

: the right, power, or privilege of making a choice: as

a

: the right of a spouse to choose a statutorily prescribed amount of a deceased spouse's estate or whatever was devised to him or her under the will

b

: the right of a person who has an interest in property that a deceased has disposed of by will either to claim his or her right to the property or to accept what he or she was devised under the will instead

c

: the right of a party to a contract that has been breached by the other party to choose to continue or terminate the contract see also election of remedies, equitable election