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Glite Dictionary
primary election

primary election

12 3.2
An early election where party voters choose candidates for the general election
  • noun
  • /ˈpraɪˌmɛri ɪˈlɛkʃən/
  • US
translation icon : elección primaria
  • In the upcoming primary election, voters will choose their preferred candidates for the general election.
  • hold primary elections
  • party held primary elections

They will not support anyone in a primary election.

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Examples

  • Therefore, the system of primary elections is harmful to the party in power.

    Academic text (2000)

  • During the first week or so following the primary election, tracking polls suggested that Duke might win.

    Academic text (2005)

  • Yes, I am registered to vote and did so in our recent primary elections.

    Blog text (27)

  • You were a big part of a historic primary election this year in Texas.

    Blog text (24)

  • Without those conditions, primary elections cannot be adopted.

    Academic text (2000)

  • Why not have primary elections through panels for all the seats?

    Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (2000)

  • In the fog of all the political radio ads in this primary election season was this:

    Blog text (13)

  • In 1999, a new round of primary elections was held in the Fateh movement in the West Bank.

    Academic text (2002)

  • Now I'd like voters in the Sept. 11 primary election to understand why we chose Jackie.

    Blog text (8)

  • The former interim chairman, Leonard Haskie, had endorsed Hale in the primary election.

    Academic text (1998)

Synonyms

election
vsprimary election
∞ 1.0

A formal process where people vote to choose someone for public office

is a specific vote held before the main vote to pick party candidates
primary
vsprimary election
  • US
∞ 5.9

An election within a party to choose its candidate for the main election

is the full phrase used in formal or written contexts

Surface Forms

primary election singular
primary elections plural

Morphology

primary + election

The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'primary' (first/preceding; an election to pick nominees) with 'election' (a formal vote), so it denotes an election held before the main one to choose party candidates. This is a straightforward compositional noun phrase following common adjective+noun/compound patterns found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily understand it.

Etymology

Primary election comes from the idea of a primary or 'first' election inside a party, where people vote to choose who will run in the big or 'general' election. So it means an election held before the main election to pick the party's candidates.