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

Philadelphia is the only city of the three finalists to be situated in a major swing state. — Frederick Sutton Sinclair, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

Party strategists say the calendar will spotlight unions, Southern Black voters and swing states worth 43 electoral votes, requiring progressives and moderates to tailor messages and campaign efficiently. — Mike Catalini, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Hong would have become the first member of Democratic Socialists of America to win a major party nomination in a swing state. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Wisconsin is a swing state in presidential elections and Minnesota has been a stronghold for Democrats over the last two decades. — Clay Masters, NPR, 11 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