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

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

Many won plurality support, but more than half dealing with climate were withdrawn after managements made commitments to their sponsors to meet their disclosure goals. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024

Polls showed that a plurality of Israeli Jews preferred to maintain the status quo rather than pursue a two-state solution. —Gregg Carlstrom, Foreign Affairs, 6 Mar. 2024

But with polls showing that a plurality of Americans now think Israel has gone too far in its Gaza campaign, the White House appears to be getting the message and venturing into more forceful expressions of frustration with Israel. —Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Mar. 2024

When asked which political party is more trusted to ensure fairness in the tax code, 42% of voters, a plurality, said Democrats, while 36% said Republicans. —Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

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

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