Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
bye-election

bye-election

7.4
A vote to choose someone for a political seat between regular elections
  • noun
  • /ˈbaɪ ɪˌlɛkʃən/
  • UK
translation icon : elección parcial
  • Due to the resignation of the sitting member, a bye-election is scheduled for next week.

Examples

  • The town will hold a bye-election next month to fill the vacant council seat.

  • We will have a bye-election.

    Academic text (1995)

  • This song made the first direct reference to the aborted general election held in March 1989 and the upcoming bye-election ordered by the Magistrate Court as a result of balloting irregularities.

    Academic text (1995)

  • Voters are excited about the upcoming bye-election to choose a new mayor.

Synonyms

election
vsbye-election
308 1.3

The fact of being chosen for a job or position, usually by vote

refers to a specific vote held to fill a sudden vacancy
by-election
vsbye-election
  • UK
4 6.0

An election to fill a public office that becomes empty between general elections

is the same vote but spelled with an extra e

Surface Forms

bye-election singular
bye-elections plural

Morphology

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

Formed from 'bye' + 'election'; while 'election' is clear, the modifier 'bye' (as in 'by-' meaning occurring between scheduled events) may be confused with 'bye' meaning farewell.

Etymology

Bye-election uses bye to mean 'extra' or 'not part of the regular schedule', much like a 'bye' in sports when a team skips a round. So, a bye-election is an election held to fill a seat that becomes empty between the normal elections.