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

Usually, within 15 to 20 days after the papacy is vacated, cardinal electors meet in the Sistine Chapel and begin the voting process. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

Despite having no legal authority to discard votes, Trump insisted Pence could reject electors from key swing states won by Joe Biden. —Carlo Versano jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025

Bost, who was first elected to Congress in 2014, and two Republican presidential electors sued Illinois election officials over the deadline for counting mail ballots in 2022. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 2 June 2025

Topline White smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel just after 6 p.m. local time—indicating the cardinal electors have chosen a successor to Pope Francis, ending a two-day conclave more than two weeks after Francis died. —Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025

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.