supermajority

noun

su·​per·​ma·​jor·​i·​ty ˈsü-pər-mə-ˌjȯr-ə-tē 

-ˌjär-

plural supermajorities

: a majority (such as two-thirds or three-fifths) that is greater than a simple majority

treaty ratification requires a supermajority

Furthermore, it is about even money that soon after Congress convenes in January it will … approve a constitutional amendment to require supermajorities (three-fifths) in both houses of Congress to approve deficit spending.

—George F. Will

The company, for instance, has a supermajority clause in its articles of incorporation; 80% of the shareholders must approve any sale or merger.

—Joshua Hyatt

Examples of supermajority in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Under current Senate rules, a 60-vote supermajority is needed to invoke cloture and end debate. —Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2025

With a chance to score their first-ever supermajority, much of the party has lined behind Krahel-Frolander, including Democratic supervisors and every Democrat in San Diego’s congressional delegation. —Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Oct. 2025

California Republicans’ attempts to enact similar policy, like banning trans girls from playing school sports, have failed to pass the Legislature’s Democratic supermajority. —Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2025

Republican primary voters viewed the state legislature, where the GOP holds a supermajority, even less favorably. —Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 14 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for supermajority

• exteriority
• inferiority
• superiority
• authority
• majority
• minority
• priority
• seniority
• sonority
• sorority

Legal Definition

supermajority

noun

su·​per·​ma·​jor·​i·​ty ˈsü-pər-mə-ˌjȯr-ə-tē 

: a large majority

a provision requiring a supermajority vote — say, 80 % of the common shares instead of the usual bare majority rule

—R. C. Clark