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

Iowa Democrats need to hold a State Senate seat in suburban Des Moines in order to prevent Republicans from regaining a supermajority. —New York Times, 31 Dec. 2025

Without a supermajority, the party will need to get support from at least one state Senate Democrat to approve Reynolds' nominees. —CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025

Power struggles between the Republican supermajority in the Statehouse and more liberal local governments like Indianapolis are a perennial issue. —Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 19 Dec. 2025

Of the 31 no votes, 21 were from the Republican supermajority in the state Senate. —Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 12 Dec. 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