elector

noun

elec·​tor i-ˈlek-tər 

-ˌtȯr

plural electors

1

: a person qualified to vote in an election

2

: a person appointed by a state in the U.S. to vote for president and vice president in the electoral college

When Americans cast their ballots, they are actually voting for a slate of electors appointed by their state's political parties who are pledged to support that party's candidate.

—Allyson Waller

3

: any of the German princes entitled to take part in choosing the Holy Roman Emperor

Examples of elector in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Republican National Committee, which brought the lawsuit, alleges the policy violates federal law establishing the Tuesday after the first Monday in November as the day for election of members of the House, Senate, and presidential electors, in specified years. —Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026

Each side in the case before the high court agreed that Congress has the authority to regulate elections, starting with the 1845 law that set a uniform date for selecting presidential electors as the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. —Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026

The fake elector was criminally charged for his role by Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford's office. —Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026

The forgery charges are felonies and the elector charge is a misdemeanor. —Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing elector

• faithless elector

Rhymes for elector

• bisector
• collector
• connector
• corrector
• defector
• deflector
• detector
• director
• dissector
• effector
• ejector
• erector

Kids Definition

elector

noun

elec·​tor i-ˈlek-tər 

-ˌtȯ(ə)r

1

: one qualified to vote in an election

2

: a person appointed by a state in the U.S. to vote for president and vice president in the electoral college

Legal Definition

elector

noun

elec·​tor

1

: a person who is qualified to vote

2

: a member of the electoral college in the U.S.