supermajority

noun

su·​per·​ma·​jor·​i·​ty ˈsü-pər-mə-ˌjȯr-ə-tē How to pronounce supermajority (audio)
-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
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Craig specifically spoke out against a provision that would require a supermajority of board members voting together to overturn certain superintendent decisions. Kathryn Muchnick, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Mar. 2026 The National Defense Authorization Act of 2024, signed into law by President Biden, prohibits a president from pulling the United States out of NATO without either a two-thirds Senate supermajority or an act of Congress. Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026 Republicans have a Senate supermajority, and one of them will be the next leader as long as the party keeps at least a majority after the November election. Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2026 In three months, the Republican supermajority and Democratic superminority came together and did in three months what Chicago and Illinois couldn’t accomplish in three years, McDermott said. Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for supermajority

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of supermajority was in 1915

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Cite this Entry

“Supermajority.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supermajority. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.

Legal Definition

supermajority

noun
su·​per·​ma·​jor·​i·​ty ˈsü-pər-mə-ˌjȯr-ə-tē How to pronounce supermajority (audio)
: a large majority
a provision requiring a supermajority vote — say, 80 % of the common shares instead of the usual bare majority ruleR. C. Clark
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