elector

noun

elec·​tor i-ˈlek-tər 

-ˌtȯr

plural electors

1

: a person qualified to vote in an election

2

: a person appointed by a state in the U.S. to vote for president and vice president in the electoral college

When Americans cast their ballots, they are actually voting for a slate of electors appointed by their state's political parties who are pledged to support that party's candidate.

—Allyson Waller

3

: any of the German princes entitled to take part in choosing the Holy Roman Emperor

Examples of elector in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Pope Leo appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on Thursday evening local time after white smoke had billowed from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, signifying the 133 cardinal electors had chosen a new leader for the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 9 May 2025

Here is a regional breakdown of the full 135 cardinal electors, according to Vatican statistics and following the Vatican's geographic grouping. —Barney Henderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025

The cardinal electors will resume voting on Thursday morning. —Sarah Ventre, NPR, 7 May 2025

But emerging on top, with the necessary backing of just over two-thirds of the voting cardinal electors, will require far more than just eligibility. —Chris Livesay, CBS News, 7 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing elector

• faithless elector

Rhymes for elector

• bisector
• collector
• connector
• corrector
• defector
• deflector
• detector
• director
• dissector
• effector
• ejector
• erector

Kids Definition

elector

noun

elec·​tor i-ˈlek-tər 

-ˌtȯ(ə)r

1

: one qualified to vote in an election

2

: a person appointed by a state in the U.S. to vote for president and vice president in the electoral college

Legal Definition

elector

noun

elec·​tor

1

: a person who is qualified to vote

2

: a member of the electoral college in the U.S.