major party

noun

: a political party having electoral strength sufficient to permit it to win control of a government usually with comparative regularity and when defeated to constitute the principal opposition to the party in power

Examples of major party in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Leaders of both major parties see Tuesday’s vote as crucial to their chances to have a House majority in the fall. ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026 Right now, that breakdown is roughly 40% Republicans, 30% Democrats and 30% voters who don’t ally with either major party. The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026 That rose to about three weeks during the past decade under presidents from both major parties. Gabriela Aoun Angueira, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2026 The 2028 Games have been designated a National Special Security Event, placing it in the same category as major party political conventions and Super Bowls. James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for major party

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of major party was in 1950

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Cite this Entry

“Major party.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/major%20party. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.

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