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

Fearing a blue tsunami might flip the crucial swing state, Rogers and his allies have leaned heavily into Islamophobic attacks against the progressive Democrat. — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026

Despite its past as a swing state, Ohio is now considered to be reliably Republican. — Saige Miller, NPR, 23 Oct. 2026

Not only has Acton, the former Ohio health director, been vastly outspent by Ramaswamy, but Ohio, once a swing state, has been deeply red for the past decade. — Teo Armus, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026

Continue reading ⦠RIGHTS ON THE LINE â ICE crackdown divides swing state candidates as GOP nominee vows to mandate sheriff cooperation. — FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 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