write-in

1 of 2

noun

ˈrīt-ˌin 

1

: a vote cast by writing in the name of a candidate

2

: a candidate whose name is written in

write in

2 of 2

verb

wrote in; written in; writing in; writes in

transitive verb

1

: to insert in a document or text

2

a

: to insert (a name not listed on a ballot or voting machine) in an appropriate space

b

: to cast (a vote) in this manner

Examples of write-in in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Brazil’s joke-candidate tradition stretches back to 1959, from voters’ write-in campaign for a zoo rhinoceros to clown Tiririca’s four terms in Congress. — Mauricio Savarese, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

Vega said only the names of people whose write-in candidacy has been certified by his office can be added. — Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026

Verb

Hospital staff were working to save Pike's life and as of late Thursday were trying to clear the two doses of the drug that the state uses to execute prisoners, her lawyers wrote in a Friday filing in Davidson County Chancery Court. — Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026

Gillian Hadfield, writing in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, argues that increasingly autonomous AI will require new legal infrastructure to establish identity and responsibility. — Joao Gomes, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1932, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for write-in

• aneurin
• crystallin
• eosin
• mandolin
• porphyrin
• superfine
• underpin
• vietminh
• violin
• akin
• auxin
• buckskin

Kids Definition

write-in

1 of 2 noun

ˈrīt-ˌin

1

: a vote cast by writing in the name of a candidate

2

: a candidate whose name is written in

write in

2 of 2 verb

: to insert (a name not listed on a ballot or voting machine) in an appropriate space