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

Unlike tariffs, gray zone pressures, or diplomatic coercion, a supermajority referendum backed by direct economic consent would yield something significantly more valuable than mere leverage. —Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026

Many significant board actions require a supermajority vote, according to DART Board Chair Randall Bryant. —Lilly Kersh, Dallas Morning News, 20 Jan. 2026

Bonding bills require a 60% supermajority vote, a higher threshold than the simple majority needed for most bills in the Minnesota Legislature. —Mary Murphy, Twin Cities, 16 Jan. 2026

There have been political whispers in South Windsor since the November election about whether the decision disqualifying Amadasun was part of a Republican ploy to keep Democrats from achieving a council supermajority. —Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 14 Jan. 2026

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