major party

noun

: a political party having electoral strength sufficient to permit it to win control of a government usually with comparative regularity and when defeated to constitute the principal opposition to the party in power

Examples of major party in a Sentence

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His opponent, Kamala Harris, who made history as America's first woman vice president on the winning ticket with President Joe Biden in 2020, became the first Black woman and first Asian American to lead a major party's presidential ticket. Nicholas Rice, People.com, 8 Dec. 2024 This year’s election was about as fractious with neither major party’s presidential nominee earning 50% of the vote. Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 26 Nov. 2024 It should also be noted that in recent presidential contests, objections to the certification of the electoral vote have come from members of both major parties, with several Democratic members of Congress raising opposition after the 2000, 2004, and 2016 elections. Jenna Bednar, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2024 On the other side is Juan Dalmau, representing the Independence Party and the Citizen Victory Movement, whose victory would make history as the first win by a candidate outside of the two major parties that have long dominated Puerto Rican politics. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for major party 

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of major party was in 1950

Dictionary Entries Near major party

Cite this Entry

“Major party.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/major%20party. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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