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

Union voters play a bigger role in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Nevada, three swing states where the share of voters who belong to unions is above the national average of 10%. — The Conversation, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2026

Even swing states such as Pennsylvania have adopted stricter, commonsense policies such as banning nondisclosure agreements and protecting energy bills. — Patrick McNamara, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026

The pair will seek to galvanize voters in Dallas before the party goes on defense in major swing states before Election Day. — Jay Stahl, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026

That once-improbable goal is now considered a virtual toss up as other red states like Alaska, Ohio and Iowa are also in play, along with swing states North Carolina and Maine. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 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