popularly elected
idiom
: chosen in an election rather than in some other way
He was the country's first popularly elected leader.
Examples of popularly elected in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The structure of the local government evolved over the decades; for example, the mayor could be popularly elected starting in 1820.
—
Rachel Treisman, NPR, 12 Aug. 2025
The people of Illinois have honored me with this responsibility longer than any person popularly elected to the Senate in our state’s history.
—Dick Durbin, Chicago Tribune, 23 Apr. 2025
In addition to advocating impeachment for misbehavior and prosecution for criminal acts, on which all delegates agreed, Dickinson wanted the President to be both weak and popularly elected.
—Jane E. Calvert / Made By History, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024
However, senators were previously appointed rather than popularly elected, which certainly changed the dynamics of how that government body performs.
—Letters To The Editor, Orange County Register, 14 Oct. 2024
Until the Seventeenth Amendment was ratified, in 1913, senators were mostly not popularly elected.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2022
In perhaps the most significant transfer of power in the city’s modern history, Michelle Wu on Tuesday was sworn in as Boston’s first woman, first person of color, and first Asian American mayor popularly elected to office.
—Danny McDonald, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Nov. 2021
Since Chinese officials are appointed rather than popularly elected, these report cards serve an accountability function similar to elections in democracies.
—Yuen Yuen Ang, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2018
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Rachel Treisman, NPR, 12 Aug. 2025
The people of Illinois have honored me with this responsibility longer than any person popularly elected to the Senate in our state’s history.
—Dick Durbin, Chicago Tribune, 23 Apr. 2025
In addition to advocating impeachment for misbehavior and prosecution for criminal acts, on which all delegates agreed, Dickinson wanted the President to be both weak and popularly elected.
—Jane E. Calvert / Made By History, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024
However, senators were previously appointed rather than popularly elected, which certainly changed the dynamics of how that government body performs.
—Letters To The Editor, Orange County Register, 14 Oct. 2024
Until the Seventeenth Amendment was ratified, in 1913, senators were mostly not popularly elected.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2022
In perhaps the most significant transfer of power in the city’s modern history, Michelle Wu on Tuesday was sworn in as Boston’s first woman, first person of color, and first Asian American mayor popularly elected to office.
—Danny McDonald, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Nov. 2021
Since Chinese officials are appointed rather than popularly elected, these report cards serve an accountability function similar to elections in democracies.
—Yuen Yuen Ang, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Popularly elected.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/popularly%20elected. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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