electorate

noun

elec·​tor·​ate i-ˈlek-t(ə-)rət How to pronounce electorate (audio)
1
: the territory, jurisdiction, or dignity of a German elector
2
: a body of people entitled to vote

Examples of electorate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Democrats make up 45% and most of those who are unaffiliated — just about another quarter of the electorate — tend to lean Democratic. Mark Barabak, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2025 The largest portion of the electorate, including key battlegrounds Ontario and Quebec, will see polls close at 8:30 p.m. EST. Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025 By clinging to the 20% view, Democrats risk estranging the broader electorate who seek a middle ground. Nafees Alam, Twin Cities, 23 Apr. 2025 Instead, demographic disruption is raising the risks to allied defenses by fueling a dangerous imbalance: autocratic rivals are militarizing despite population declines, while democratic allies are rearming slowly, constrained by aging electorates and mounting welfare obligations. Michael Beckley, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for electorate

Word History

First Known Use

1620, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of electorate was in 1620

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Electorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electorate. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

electorate

noun
elec·​tor·​ate i-ˈlek-t(ə-)rət How to pronounce electorate (audio)
: a body of people entitled to vote

Legal Definition

electorate

noun
elec·​tor·​ate
: a body of people entitled to vote

More from Merriam-Webster on electorate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!