elector

noun

elec·​tor i-ˈlek-tər How to pronounce elector (audio)
-ˌtȯr
plural electors
Synonyms of electornext
1
: a person qualified to vote in an election
2
: a person appointed by a state in the U.S. to vote for president and vice president in the electoral college
When Americans cast their ballots, they are actually voting for a slate of electors appointed by their state's political parties who are pledged to support that party's candidate.Allyson Waller
3
: any of the German princes entitled to take part in choosing the Holy Roman Emperor

Examples of elector in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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All the offices subject to the charter revisions — council, selectmen, treasurer and clerk — were on the ballot and voted for by the electors of South Windsor, presumably because the changes were not to take effect until 2027. Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 14 Jan. 2026 Bost and two presidential-elector nominees filed their original lawsuit in 2022 and alleged that Illinois' law that allowed ballots postmarked by, but received within two weeks of, the election to be counted violated federal law. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026 The high court wrote in a footnote that, since only one plaintiff needs standing for a suit to proceed, the justices did not decide whether Pollastrini and Sweeney have the legal right to sue as prospective electors. Ella Lee, The Hill, 14 Jan. 2026 Other opposition parties and activists have pointed out that the documents officials are asking electors to submit, instead of their existing voter IDs, are those that are typically used to establish citizenship. Esha Mitra, CNN Money, 25 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for elector

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of elector was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Elector.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elector. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

elector

noun
elec·​tor i-ˈlek-tər How to pronounce elector (audio)
-ˌtȯ(ə)r
1
: one qualified to vote in an election
2
: a person appointed by a state in the U.S. to vote for president and vice president in the electoral college

Legal Definition

elector

noun
elec·​tor
1
: a person who is qualified to vote
2
: a member of the electoral college in the U.S.

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