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

In a labor battle that began when the Starbucks mega chain fired seven employees at a Memphis coffee shop in 2022, the company seemed to have the upper hand during oral arguments before a conservative supermajority at the Supreme Court. —USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024

Despite broad bipartisan support for most of the 1970s, the E.R.A. failed to win ratification by a supermajority of states, as required by the Constitution, ahead of a 1982 deadline. —Trip Gabriel, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024

As president, Trump appointed three justices to the court, giving it a 6-3 conservative supermajority. —Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR, 8 Apr. 2024

Separately, the organization filed a lawsuit claiming Senate Bill 1, which will distribute the funding to the A’s, is unconstitutional because it was not passed with a supermajority. —Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2024

The GOP supermajority ultimately voted down efforts by Democrats to delay or amend the legislation. —Melissa Noel, Essence, 4 Apr. 2024

Lawmakers who oppose changing the supermajority have said there should be a high threshold to impose taxes on a community. —Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 27 Mar. 2024

The city accepted a protest petition from opponents, which required a supermajority of the City Council, 75%, to approve the rezoning. —Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024

The Republican Study Committee, the House GOP’s largest caucus, representing a supermajority of Republican members, released a budget Wednesday that went further. —Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 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