minor party

noun

: a political party whose electoral strength is so small as to prevent its gaining control of a government except in rare and exceptional circumstances

Examples of minor party in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Kansas election officials identified two nomination loopholes during the 2024 cycle — one involving a candidate being nominated by a minor party without consent, and another where a candidate who lost in the primary reappeared under a minor party in the general election. Tyler Kirby, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2025 Independent candidates and minor parties are projected to take about 13 seats in parliament, which means Albanese may have to form a coalition if the final count shows that his party ultimately falls short of a parliamentary majority. Astha Rajvanshi, NBC news, 3 May 2025 Among voters who were against the ballot initiative and for Gascón, 74% were Democrats while the remaining were independents or registered with a minor party. Koko Nakajima, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024 However, in recent years Bayrou has been a close adviser to Macron (he was supposed to have joined the first Macron cabinet but fell foul of a minor party funding scandal – Marine Le Pen is charged with the same type of indiscretion but on a larger scale). Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for minor party

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of minor party was in 1949

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Cite this Entry

“Minor party.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minor%20party. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

minor party

noun
: a political party whose electoral strength is so small as to prevent its gaining control of a government except in rare and exceptional circumstances
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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