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general election
noun
: an election usually held at regular intervals in which candidates are elected in all or most constituencies of a nation or state
Examples of general election in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The nonpartisan race has its primary in August and general election in November.
—
Annalise Frank, Axios, 4 Feb. 2025
Eliminating primaries when two or fewer people run would save on election costs and avoid the redundancy of two candidates running against each other twice — once in the primary with no consequences, and then again in the November general election to determine the winner.
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David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025
School board elections Senate Bill 287, authored by Byrne, Sen. Chris Garten, R-Charlestown, and Sen. Blake Doriot, R-Goshen, would change the school board election process to that of other elections, which would include a primary and general election.
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Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025
The two Republican candidates will move on to face Democratic opponents in a special general election on April 1, and will be strongly favored in districts that lean heavily Republican.
—
Kellen Browning, New York Times, 29 Jan. 2025
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Word History
First Known Use
1640, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near general election
Cite this Entry
“General election.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/general%20election. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
Legal Definition
general election
noun
: an election usually held at regular intervals in which candidates are elected in all or most constituencies of a nation or state
More from Merriam-Webster on general election
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about general election
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