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

Inside both chambers, the Republican supermajority approved a new congressional map splitting Memphis—the state’s only majority-Black city—into three pieces, eliminating Democratic Representative Steve Cohen’s seat and making Tennessee’s delegation nine Republicans and zero Democrats. —Bruce Sibley, Time, 29 May 2026

The Legislature should consider allowing members to change the budget by a supermajority of three-fifths of the members of both houses. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 28 May 2026

The Legislature’s supermajority Democrats are obviously sympathetic to the complaints flooding their offices, even to the extent of raising taxes. —Dan Walters, Mercury News, 28 May 2026

Prior to voting on the boycott, members voted 61% in favor of eliminating a requirement that all boycott votes require a supermajority of 75%. —Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 27 May 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