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minor party
noun
: a political party whose electoral strength is so small as to prevent its gaining control of a government except in rare and exceptional circumstances
Examples of minor party in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
More minor parties that may not pass the 5% threshold to enter parliament include the pro-EU reformist REPER party and the liberal-conservative Force of the Right.
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Stephen McGrath, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2024
But a group of minor party lawmakers worked with the minority to elect a speaker, delivering the chamber to Democrats, according to Pew.
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Benjamin Siegel, ABC News, 27 Nov. 2024
And in 2023 another Working Families Party member, Nicolas O’Rourke, won the second at-large City Council seat reserved for minor parties, thereby completely replacing Republicans in those positions.
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Richardson Dilworth, The Conversation, 14 Jan. 2025
Advertisement In June, Nevada Democrats sued and said the Green Party failed to comply with the state’s rules for minor parties seeking a spot on the ballot.
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David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1949, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near minor party
Cite this Entry
“Minor party.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minor%20party. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
minor party
noun
: a political party whose electoral strength is so small as to prevent its gaining control of a government except in rare and exceptional circumstances
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