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Glite Dictionary
by-election

by-election

4 6.0
An election to fill a public office that becomes empty between general elections
  • noun
  • /ˈbaɪ ɪˌlɛkʃən/
  • UK
translation icon : elección parcial
  • Congratulations on your victory in by-election.
  • a parliamentary by-election
  • hold a by-election

UKIP got their first MP in the Clacton by election.

Examples

  • For example, between 1964 and 1984, Zambia held 14 by-elections to replace incumbents who had died in office.

    Academic text (2005)

  • This is a gift for your victory in the by-election.

    Gussy (2022)

  • Is it a national holiday today because your party won the by-election?

    Gussy (2022)

  • There will be a by-election.

    Random Harvest (1942)

  • We need to get our people out for the by-elections.

    Blog text (7)

  • In 1984, by-elections were held to fill vacant seats in the Lower House.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Our Minwoo party won a victory in this by-election.

    Gussy (2022)

  • "Kapwepwe won the by-election in December 1971, receiving 2,120 votes against Kamalondo's 1,814.

    Academic text (2006)

  • In 2021, a by-election was called to fill the vacant seat in the city council after the previous member resigned.

  • The mayor announced that a by-election would take place next month to select a replacement for the retired senator.

Synonyms

bye-election
vsby-election
  • UK
7.4

A vote to choose someone for a political seat between regular elections

is the same meaning but uses the alternative spelling without the final e

How Inclusive

regional
29 3.3
by-election
  • UK
4 6.0

Surface Forms

by-election singular
by-elections plural

Morphology

by-election = election (semi-transparent) = by + election

The prefix 'by-' indicates a secondary or supplementary nature, but the specific meaning of an election held between regular elections is not immediately obvious.

Etymology

By-election uses the part by-, which here means 'extra' or 'at the side', like in the familiar word by-product. So a by-election is an 'extra' vote held between regular elections to fill a seat that has become empty.