supermajority

noun

su·​per·​ma·​jor·​i·​ty ˈsü-pər-mə-ˌjȯr-ə-tē 

-ˌjär-

plural supermajorities

: a majority (such as two-thirds or three-fifths) that is greater than a simple majority

treaty ratification requires a supermajority

Furthermore, it is about even money that soon after Congress convenes in January it will … approve a constitutional amendment to require supermajorities (three-fifths) in both houses of Congress to approve deficit spending.

—George F. Will

The company, for instance, has a supermajority clause in its articles of incorporation; 80% of the shareholders must approve any sale or merger.

—Joshua Hyatt

Examples of supermajority in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Democrats went into the Nov. 5 election with a 46-19 majority, three votes above the two-thirds threshold for supermajority status. —Nick Coltrain, The Denver Post, 11 Nov. 2024

Groups funded by Leo, who is seen as the architect behind the Supreme Court’s conservative supermajority, provided the Tea Party group and a related foundation at least $1.1 million between 2020 and 2022, records show, including a 2021 grant related to election integrity. —Doug Bock Clark, ProPublica, 4 Nov. 2024

Will Republicans keep their supermajority in the state legislature? —Zachery Eanes, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024

The independent campaigns bankrolled by giant tech companies, labor unions, law enforcement organizations and other major players at the state Capitol may sway the struggle between liberal and moderate lawmakers within the Legislature’s Democratic supermajority. —Anabel Sosa, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

supermajority

noun

su·​per·​ma·​jor·​i·​ty ˈsü-pər-mə-ˌjȯr-ə-tē 

: a large majority

a provision requiring a supermajority vote — say, 80 % of the common shares instead of the usual bare majority rule

—R. C. Clark