Skip to main content
seat

seat

382 4.6
A position in a government body that someone wins in an election
  • noun
  • /siːt/
translation icon : escaño
  • In last November's general election, New Alliance picked up five seats in the parliament.
  • win a seat
  • lose a seat
  • a seat in Parliament

You're going to take Nancy Pelosi's seat in this next election.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Ted Cruz has held on to his Senate seat in Texas.

  • After winning a seat, Walls charged in on day one.

  • After winning a seat, Walls charged in on day one.

  • The number of women in who run for office and who win seats shoot up dramatically.

  • One Democrat is running for his seat, and his name is Charles Booker.

  • Republicans occupy 19 of the 25 seats in the current congressional delegation.

    Academic text (2011)
  • In 1868, black Republican John Willis Menard appeared to have won a seat in Louisiana.

    Academic text (2011)
  • His brother, who now holds a council seat, will run for mayor in his place.

  • One Democrat is running for his seat, and his name is Charles Booker.

Synonyms

office
vsseat
1.6

A job with official power in a government or organization

is limited to member positions in legislative or similar official bodies
public office
vsseat
  • Formal
45 3.2

A government job with power and duty to serve the people

is specifically for membership in legislative or similar bodies not any government post
senatorship
vsseat
1 7.2

The job of a person who speaks for people and helps make a country's laws

is a general membership in any legislative or similar official body
legislatorship
vsseat
  • Formal
8.8

A time when a person works as an elected lawmaker

is the member position obtained by election or official appointment
councilorship
vsseat
8.6

The job of being a member of a council who attends meetings and votes on local matters

is the member position in legislative or similar bodies rather than only local groups

Idioms

The right to take part in important decisions

Being in control of a situation and making the decisions

To make quick decisions without a plan

3 9.1

A strong position with power or advantage

To gain a respected place in a group by working hard

Compounds

148 1.0

A strap that keeps a person sitting in a car or plane during an accident

71 1.0

A seat at the front of a car next to the driver

52 1.0

A seat in a car for the driver or passengers

39 1.0

A seat attached to the top of a toilet that you sit on

hot seat
  • Informal
22 4.6

A position where someone is under strong pressure and criticism because of their responsibilities

driver's seat
  • Informal
18 4.1

A position of control where someone makes important decisions

12 2.1

A long bench by a window for sitting and enjoying the view

10 2.7

A small sofa for two people to sit together

8 3.0

A seat that costs little and has a poor view at an event

7 4.4

Private place in a raised box with a good view of the stage or field

6 4.3

A town or city where the county government has its main offices

A place very close to the action at a sporting event or show that lets you watch events up close

4 3.1

A low chair shaped to hold one person, like in a car

ejection seat
  • Specialized
3 5.0

A seat in a plane that pushes the pilot out in an emergency so they can use a parachute

ejector seat
  • Specialized
2 5.5

A seat in a plane that pushes the pilot out in an emergency so they can use a parachute

2 1.3

A soft pad that you put on a seat to make sitting more comfortable

2 5.3

A small folding seat in a vehicle used for extra passengers

mercy seat
  • Literature
1 9.9

A gold lid on the Ark where God meets people and forgives them

1 1.0

The part of a bicycle that a person sits on

rumble seat
  • Archaic
1 9.9

An extra place to sit at the back of an old car that folds and is open to the air

1 8.5

Acting on instinct rather than careful planning

box seat
  • Archaic
1 8.9

Place where a driver sits on a horse-drawn carriage

back-seat driver
  • Offensive
1 5.3

A person who gives unwanted advice while someone else does a task

1 1.1

A place where a passenger sits on an airplane

potty seat
  • Baby Talk
1 1.8

A small seat children sit on to learn to use the toilet

bell seat
  • Archaic
9.9

A seat shaped like a bell on some chairs from the 1700s

death seat
  • Informal
8.4

The front passenger seat people think is most dangerous in a car crash

dickey-seat
  • Archaic
9.9

A small extra folding seat at the back of a two-seat car often open to the weather

dicky-seat
  • Archaic
9.9

A small fold-out seat at the back of an old two-seat car

balloon seat
  • Archaic
9.9

A rounded chair seat that looks like a small puffed cushion on 18th century chairs

hot seat
  • NSFW
8.8

A chair that kills a person by electricity

saddle seat
  • Specialized
6.6

A slightly curved place to sit like a horse saddle that gives extra comfort

seat hogging
  • Informal
5.7

A person who takes more than one seat or extra space in public places

A comfortable place to sit where you can relax

Choosing quickly without careful planning or thought

A place to sit in rising rows so people behind can see

sliding seat
  • Specialized
4.6

A seat in a rowing boat that moves on runners so the rower can use their legs

How Senior

head of state
  • Formal
49 3.5
seat
382 4.6
backbencher
  • Jargon
2 7.5

Surface Forms

seat singular
seats plural

Etymology

Seat comes from the Old English setl, meaning 'place to sit'. That's why a political 'seat' is a person's place in a council or parliament — it is their official place there as a member.