plurality

noun

plu·​ral·​i·​ty plu̇-ˈra-lə-tē 

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

Majorities or pluralities of Democrats (53%), Republicans (48%) and independents (40%) said policies are about right. —Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025

Ninety-one percent of Republicans and a strong plurality of Democrats (48%) approved of the Court’s June decision to let parents of elementary school children opt out of certain classes for religious reasons. —Karlyn Bowman, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025

Still, former Vice President Kamala Harris held support from a plurality of respondents with 27 percent, up from 25 percent in July. —Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025

According to a separate Economist/YouGov survey, a plurality (48%) of adults – including a majority (51%) of Independents – disapprove of deploying the National Guard and federalizing the city’s police force. —Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 28 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for plurality

• banality
• bestiality
• brutality
• carnality
• centrality
• chirality
• duality
• fatality
• finality
• formality
• frugality
• legality

Kids Definition

plurality

noun

plu·​ral·​i·​ty plu̇-ˈral-ət-ē 

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 

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