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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Political figures from both major parties have also backed limits on AI development. — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026 Some Black Michigan Democrats believe the effort, aimed at pressuring the Biden administration over Gaza, cost then-Vice President Kamala Harris in her campaign as the first Black woman to be a major party presidential nominee. — ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026 The race pits the two major party candidates against each other in a Sierra Nevada foothills Senate District where Republicans have a narrow voter registration advantage. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2026 Every election, the two major parties mobilize massive operations of attorneys, staffers and volunteers to monitor polling places and ballot counting. — Nicholas Riccardi, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 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 7 Oct. 2026.

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