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

But the Florida House supermajority, after years of blindly bending to DeSantis’ will, apparently decided that protecting Floridians from AI’s worst predations is too much to ask. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026

Any such firing would require a supermajority, or eight out of 10 board members. —Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026

The court is designed to be an independent check on the White House, though it is currently made up of a 6-3 conservative supermajority. —Rachel Treisman, NPR, 1 Apr. 2026

The House proceeded to vote down the amendment resolution 59-63 — 25 votes short of the necessary supermajority. —Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 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