plurality

noun

plu·​ral·​i·​ty plu̇-ˈra-lə-tē How to pronounce plurality (audio)
plural pluralities
1
a
: the state of being plural
b
: the state of being numerous
c
: a large number or quantity
2
: pluralism sense 1
also : a benefice held by pluralism
3
a
: a number greater than another
b
: an excess of votes over those cast for an opposing candidate
c
: a number of votes cast for a candidate in a contest of more than two candidates that is greater than the number cast for any other candidate but not more than half the total votes cast

Examples of plurality in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Fifty-five percent of respondents in a Feb. 8-11 YouGov poll said that student loan debt was somewhat or very important to them, but a plurality, 44 percent, thought borrowers should have to repay them while only 40 percent said the government should forgive them. Monica Potts, ABC News, 9 Apr. 2024 With three candidates advancing to the November election, the winner might ultimately be decided by a plurality of votes instead of a majority that’s seen in races with only two candidates. Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024 Instead, Moreno struggled for weeks to break away from the pack and whittle down a plurality of undecided voters that dominated most polls. Haley Bemiller, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2024 In a portion of the lead opinion written by Judge Jennifer Elrod, an eight-judge plurality found that bump stocks are clearly not covered by the statutory definition of machine gun. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2024 At the shareholder meeting, Disney’s directors will be elected on a plurality basis. Todd Spangler, Variety, 1 Apr. 2024 The United States has paid the plurality of the agency’s overall budget, including $370 million in 2023. Robert Jimison, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024 Most candidates are spending the plurality of their time in Iowa, in keeping with its prime placement on the calendar. Nathaniel Rakich, ABC News, 12 Jan. 2024 Notably, this doesn't necessarily signal an anti-Trump shift for those voters: recent surveys from Emerson College and Siena College/New York Times suggest that a majority or plurality of Haley supporters voted for Biden in 2020. Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'plurality.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of plurality was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near plurality

Cite this Entry

“Plurality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plurality. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

plurality

noun
plu·​ral·​i·​ty plu̇-ˈral-ət-ē How to pronounce plurality (audio)
plural pluralities
1
: the state of being plural or numerous
2
a
: the greater number or part
a plurality of the nations want peace
b
: the number of votes by which one candidate wins over another
c
: a number of votes cast for a candidate in a contest of more than two candidates that is greater than the number cast for any other candidate but is not more than half the total votes cast

Legal Definition

plurality

noun
plu·​ral·​i·​ty plu̇-ˈra-lə-tē How to pronounce plurality (audio)
plural pluralities
: an amount or group (as of votes) that is greater than any other amount or group within a total but that is not more than half
especially : a group of justices on an appeals court who do not form a majority but with whose opinion enough other justices concur to render it the decision of the court see also plurality opinion at opinion compare majority
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