swing state

noun

plural swing states

US politics : a U.S. state in which Republican and Democratic candidates have similar levels of support and which is considered to play a key role in the outcome of presidential elections

The politics of immigration in Florida, a key swing state, are not as clear as they are in California.

—Tom Masland et al.

If he is so polarizing, how was he elected five times in a swing state?

—Nancy Gibbs et al.

Examples of swing state in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The lack of any basis to pursue voter fraud investigations into the 2020 election in Nevada raises further questions about why similar inquiries are being pursued in other swing states, including Georgia and Arizona, and why there is probable cause to suggest fraud occurred in those other states. —Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026

Young workers with union jobs still cannot afford homes, making housing costs critical for voters in this swing state. —Jonathan J. Cooper, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026

Trump won every single swing state, and more than enough electoral votes to return to the White House without suspicion of election tampering or controversy. —Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026

Republicans could end up controlling 11 of 14 house seats in the swing state. —Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for swing state

• abate
• airfreight
• await
• baseplate
• berate
• birthdate
• birthrate
• bookplate
• borate
• breastplate
• bromate
• casemate