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.
Tom Masland et al.If he is so polarizing, how was he elected five times in a swing state?—Nancy Gibbs et al.
Nancy Gibbs et al.Examples of swing state in a Sentence
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What national Democrats may consider In the past, the Democratic National Committee has oscillated between hosting the event in swing states and safe Democratic areas.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 4 Jan. 2026
The party swept a plethora of off-season election victories across the country on Nov. 4, from New Jersey and Virginia’s key gubernatorial races, to California’s passage of its redistricting plan, to even more local races in swing states like Pennsylvania and Georgia.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 30 Dec. 2025
North Carolina became the first swing state to draw new congressional districts amid a nationwide arms race between Republicans and Democrats to secure additional seats ahead of next year's midterm elections.
—Adam Wagner, NPR, 19 Dec. 2025
His approval rating is negative in all the swing states.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
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Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 4 Jan. 2026
The party swept a plethora of off-season election victories across the country on Nov. 4, from New Jersey and Virginia’s key gubernatorial races, to California’s passage of its redistricting plan, to even more local races in swing states like Pennsylvania and Georgia.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 30 Dec. 2025
North Carolina became the first swing state to draw new congressional districts amid a nationwide arms race between Republicans and Democrats to secure additional seats ahead of next year's midterm elections.
—Adam Wagner, NPR, 19 Dec. 2025
His approval rating is negative in all the swing states.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swing state
Cite this Entry
“Swing state.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swing%20state. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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