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

The council partially overrode those vetoes June 23 as a supermajority of six of the nine council members restored funding for brush management, flood prevention and recreation programs at city reservoirs. —Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2025

Why did the Tennessee GOP supermajority pass the immigration bill? —Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025

Despite having a new governor who supports a tough-on-hospitals approach, proposals that resemble price caps on health systems remain polarizing within the Republican supermajority. —Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 2 July 2025

Not surprisingly, the court’s conservative supermajority upheld the Tennessee law by a 6-3 vote, with the trio of more liberal justices dissenting. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 1 July 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