plurality

noun

plu·​ral·​i·​ty plu̇-ˈra-lə-tē 

plural pluralities

1

a

: the state of being plural

b

: the state of being numerous

c

: a large number or quantity

2

: pluralism sense 1

also : a benefice held by pluralism

3

a

: a number greater than another

b

: an excess of votes over those cast for an opposing candidate

c

: a number of votes cast for a candidate in a contest of more than two candidates that is greater than the number cast for any other candidate but not more than half the total votes cast

Examples of plurality in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Latinos make up 19% of the population and are set to form a plurality of the country's population by midcentury, but experts say a lack of discussion on Latino poverty is allowing inequalities to fester and grow. —Russell Contreras, Axios, 16 July 2024

Javits, still believing a plurality of voters wouldn’t turn him out of office, stayed on the November ballot as the Liberal Party candidate and began to campaign more assiduously against both D’Amato and the Democratic candidate, Congresswoman Liz Holtzman. —David Morse, New York Daily News, 14 July 2024

And despite misgivings about Biden’s management of the war, a 47 percent plurality want to continue sending weapons to Ukraine. —Marc A. Thiessen, Washington Post, 25 June 2024

But the era of convergence that began around 1990 stands out for its ubiquity of remarkable growth, extending to a plurality of developing countries. —Dev Patel, Foreign Affairs, 12 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

plurality

noun

plu·​ral·​i·​ty plu̇-ˈral-ət-ē 

plural pluralities

1

: the state of being plural or numerous

2

a

: the greater number or part

a plurality of the nations want peace

b

: the number of votes by which one candidate wins over another

c

: a number of votes cast for a candidate in a contest of more than two candidates that is greater than the number cast for any other candidate but is not more than half the total votes cast

Legal Definition

plurality

noun

plu·​ral·​i·​ty plu̇-ˈra-lə-tē 

plural pluralities

: an amount or group (as of votes) that is greater than any other amount or group within a total but that is not more than half

especially : a group of justices on an appeals court who do not form a majority but with whose opinion enough other justices concur to render it the decision of the court see also plurality opinion at opinion compare majority