Meaning & use
elections
Last updated
“elections” is a form of “election”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nounplural
Plural of election: occasions when people vote to choose someone for a position or decide an issue.
Grammar: Always plural in form; takes plural verbs: 'The elections are next week.'
Patterns
- hold elections
- win elections
- local elections
- general elections
The country holds elections every four years.
Local elections will take place in the spring.
She has won three elections in a row.
Word forms
| singular | election |
|---|
Common combinations
- general elections
- General elections decide who forms the government.
- hold elections
- The council will hold elections in June.
- presidential elections
- Presidential elections attract worldwide attention.
- election results
- The election results were announced late at night.
- free and fair elections
- Observers said the vote was free and fair.
Synonyms and how they differ
- votes
- Votes can mean the individual choices made by voters, while elections refers to the whole process.
- polls
- Polls often means the voting event or the place where people vote, and is more informal in this use.
Word family
Commonly confused: elections or election? elections or electons?
elections vs election
Use the singular for one contest and the plural for several or for the general event.
elections vs electons
This is a common misspelling; the correct spelling keeps the -ct- from elect.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
Elections is plural, so it takes the plural verb were. Option 0 uses a singular verb with a plural noun, and option 2 uses a plural verb with a singular noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “elections”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.