election
nounUS, UK /ɪˈlɛkʃ(ə)n/ · /əˈlɛkʃ(ə)n/
Etymology From Middle English eleccioun, eleccion, from Anglo-Norman eleccioun, from Latin ēlectiōn-, stem of ēlectiō (“choice, selection”), from ēligō (“to pluck out, to choose”). Equivalent to elect + -ion. Displaced native Old English cyre (“choice, free will, election”).
1
A process of choosing a leader, members of parliament, councillors, or other representatives by popular vote.
- The parliamentary election(s) will be held in March.
- How did you vote in (UK also: at) the last election?
1 more example
- That brief moment after the election four years ago, when many Americans thought Mr. Obama’s election would presage a new, less fractious political era, now seems very much a thing of the past.2012 November 7, Matt Bai, “Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds”, in New York Times:
2
The choice of a leader or representative by popular vote.
- The election of John Smith was due to his broad appeal.
3
An option that is selected.
- W-4 election
4
Archaic Any conscious choice.
- Whosoever searcheth all the circumstances and embraceth all the consequences thereof hindereth his election.1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 20, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:
- To use men with much difference and election is good.1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Followers and Friends”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:
1 more example
- The predestinative force of a free agent's own will in certain absolute acts, determinations, or elections, and in respect of which acts it is one either with the divine or the devilish will; and if the former, the conclusions to be drawn from God's goodness, faithfulness, and spiritual presence; these supply grounds of argument of a very different character […]1830, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Notes on The Pilgrim's Progress:
5
Lifestyle, Religion, Theology In Calvinism, God's predestination of saints including all of the elect.
- [H]e [Paul] laboureth to comfort Timothy vvith the remembrance of the ſtedfaſtneſs of Gods eternal decree of Election, becauſe grounded on his foreknowledge; […]1684, John Bunyan, A Holy Life, the Beauty of Christianity: Or, An Exhortation to Christians to be Holy, London: […] B. W. for Benj[amin] Alsop, […], →OCLC, page 3:
6
Obsolete Those who are elected.
- The election hath obtained it.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Romans 11:7:
- Synonyms
- chosenness
- Derived terms
29 terms
antielection, byelection, by-election, e-election, election campaign, electioneer, electioneering, electionless, electionlike, election night, election silence, electionspeak, election threshold, khaki election, midterm election, nonelection, postelection, pre-election, preelection, pseudo-election, pseudoelection, re-election, reelection, special election, subelection, sweat like a nigger on election day, unconditional election, unelection, wave election- Related terms
- elect, electional, election of remedies, election theft, elective, elector, electoral, electorate, psephology