swing state
noun
plural swing states
US politics
: a U.S. state in which Republican and Democratic candidates have similar levels of support and which is considered to play a key role in the outcome of presidential elections
The politics of immigration in Florida, a key swing state, are not as clear as they are in California.—
Tom Masland et al.
Tom Masland et al.If he is so polarizing, how was he elected five times in a swing state?—Nancy Gibbs et al.
Nancy Gibbs et al.Examples of swing state in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Republican president won all seven swing states, and more than 89 percent of counties shifted redder, according to The New York Times.
—Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 23 Feb. 2025
Without Trump’s refusal to accept his defeat by Joe Biden, losing six of the seven swing states (Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin), there would have been no march on the Capitol and no riot.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2025
Republicans from swing states and districts are ducking questions about their openness to cutting Medicaid in order to help pay for an extension of President Trump's tax cuts.
—Peter Sullivan, Axios, 22 Jan. 2025
Trump did amass a sizable victory in the electoral college, and swept to victories across the nation’s swing states.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swing state
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 23 Feb. 2025
Without Trump’s refusal to accept his defeat by Joe Biden, losing six of the seven swing states (Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin), there would have been no march on the Capitol and no riot.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2025
Republicans from swing states and districts are ducking questions about their openness to cutting Medicaid in order to help pay for an extension of President Trump's tax cuts.
—Peter Sullivan, Axios, 22 Jan. 2025
Trump did amass a sizable victory in the electoral college, and swept to victories across the nation’s swing states.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swing state
Cite this Entry
“Swing state.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swing%20state. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share