ballot
gb/bˈælət/ us/bˈælət/
B2
English
~ 8800
szavazólap, szavazás, titkos szavazás, szavaz, szavazást tart
NOUN
B2
1
szavazólap
B1
Usage pattern:
to cast [a ballot] for [someone/something]
Each voter received a single ballot listing all the candidates.
Minden választó egyetlen szavazólapot kapott, amelyen az összes jelölt szerepelt.
She accidentally marked the wrong box on her ballot and had to request a new one.
Véletlenül rossz négyzetet jelölt be a szavazólapon, ezért újat kellett kérnie.
Officials began counting the absentee ballots as soon as the polls closed.
In this district, you can choose between a paper ballot and an electronic ballot.
Make sure you sign the envelope, or your mail-in ballot will not be accepted.
Learner examples
I put my ballot in the box.
Bedobtam a szavazólapomat az urnába.
He marked his ballot for the new mayor.
Bejelölte a szavazólapján az új polgármester nevét.
They counted all the ballots after the vote.
She sent her ballot by mail.
Please take one ballot and go to the table.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "ballot" with "bullet" because the words look similar. Remember that a ballot is for voting, while a bullet is for a gun. Some learners also think "ballot" always means a paper form, but in modern elections it can also be electronic.
Meaning
paper or form used to vote
Collocations
cast a ballot
|fill out a ballot
|mail-in ballot
|paper ballot
|count the ballots
|destroyed ballots
Synonyms
ballot paper (Especially in British English, clearly refers to the physical piece of paper used for voting.)
Antonyms
abstention (Refers to the act of not voting at all, the opposite of filling in and submitting a ballot.)
Themes
politics
|government
|society
|law
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A paper or electronic form where a person marks their choice in an election or vote.
A piece of paper, card, or electronic form on which a voter marks their choices in an election or other formal vote.
NOUN
B2
2
szavazás
A2
Usage pattern:
[something] is decided by [ballot]
The committee agreed that the new chairperson would be chosen by ballot.
A bizottság megállapodott abban, hogy az új elnököt titkos szavazással választják meg.
Union members backed strike action in a nationwide ballot.
A szakszervezeti tagok egy országos szavazáson támogatták a sztrájkot.
The reforms were rejected in a secret ballot of party members.
The result of the ballot was announced at the end of the meeting.
Under the new rules, the leader can be removed only after a full membership ballot.
Learner examples
The new leader was chosen by ballot.
Az új vezetőt szavazással választották meg.
Workers had a ballot on the pay offer.
A dolgozók körében szavazást tartottak a bérajánlatról.
In this club, big decisions are made by ballot.
The ballot will take place next week.
Members voted in a secret ballot.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "ballot" only for the paper and forget it can also mean the whole voting process. In phrases like "chosen by ballot," it refers to how the decision is made, not to the pieces of paper themselves.
Meaning
formal process of voting
Collocations
decide by ballot
|hold a ballot
|secret ballot
|strike ballot
|union ballot
|the ballot is mandatory
Synonyms
vote (A very general word for any act or system of voting; "ballot" usually suggests a more formal or secret voting process.)
Antonyms
appointment (A decision made by selecting someone without a vote, contrasting with choosing by ballot.)
Themes
politics
|government
|law
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A formal way of voting, often in secret, or all the votes in that process.
A formal process or system of voting, especially one in which votes are cast in secret, or the total number of votes cast in such a process.
VERB
C1
3
szavaz
A2
Usage pattern:
[group] ballots on [issue]
Party members will ballot on the merger next month.
A párttagok a jövő hónapban szavaznak az egyesülésről.
Employees are set to ballot on whether to accept the new contract.
A munkavállalók várhatóan szavaznak arról, elfogadják-e az új szerződést.
Shareholders will ballot electronically on the takeover offer.
The council agreed to ballot on the issue before making a final decision.
Teachers will ballot again if no new pay offer is made.
Learner examples
Workers will ballot on the new plan.
A dolgozók szavazni fognak az új tervről.
Members will ballot on the question tomorrow.
A tagok holnap szavaznak a kérdésről.
The group will ballot before they decide.
Teachers may ballot again next week.
Students will ballot on who will be class president.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "ballot for" when they mean "vote for" (e.g. "I balloted for him"). It is more natural to say "I voted for him". The verb "ballot" is most often used with groups: "Members will ballot on the issue."
Meaning
to vote using a ballot
Collocations
ballot on the proposal
|ballot on strike action
|members will ballot
|to ballot again
|ballot electronically
Synonyms
vote ("Vote" is more common and general; "ballot" as a verb often suggests a formal, organized procedure, especially in unions or political parties.)
Antonyms
abstain (To choose not to vote in a ballot, which is the opposite of taking part in the ballot.)
Themes
politics
|government
|society
|law
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To take part in a formal vote by using ballots.
To vote in a formal ballot, especially as a member of a group or organization.
VERB
C1
4
Usage pattern:
to ballot [people] on [something]
The union will ballot its members on possible strike action.
A szakszervezet szavazást tart a tagjai körében az esetleges sztrájkról.
Management agreed to ballot staff over the new working hours.
A vezetőség beleegyezett, hogy szavazást tartson a dolgozók körében az új munkaidőről.
The association plans to ballot all its members about the proposed changes.
They decided to ballot employees on whether to accept the offer.
The party will ballot the membership before changing its rules.
Learner examples
The union will ballot its members on the plan.
A szakszervezet szavazást tart a tagjai körében a tervről.
The company decided to ballot workers about the new hours.
A vállalat úgy döntött, hogy szavazást tart a dolgozók körében az új munkaidőről.
They will ballot all members before they choose a leader.
The club will ballot parents on the new rules.
The group wants to ballot students about the trip.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this sense with simply asking for opinions in a meeting. "To ballot people" means you organize a formal vote, usually with papers or an official system, not just ask them to speak.
Meaning
to ask people to vote by ballot
Collocations
ballot members on
|ballot workers on strike action
|ballot staff over changes
|ballot employees about
|decide to ballot the membership
Synonyms
consult (Means to ask for opinions; "ballot" is a specific, formal way of consulting people through a vote.)
Antonyms
impose (To force a decision without asking people to vote, which contrasts with balloting them.)
Themes
politics
|government
|society
|work
|law
Definition
To organize a formal vote for a group of people using ballots.
To arrange for a group of people to vote on something using ballots, especially within an organization or union.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ballot
IPA
GB/bˈælət/
US/bˈælət/
Syllables & stress
bal - lot (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (bal)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: ballot
- Plural: ballots
Verb
- Base: ballot
- 3rd Person Singular: ballots
- Present Participle: balloting
- Past: balloted
Word family
Expressions
ballot box
1/bˈælət bˈɑks/
fixed phrase
box that holds completed ballots
A special box where people put their completed ballots during an election.
Examples
- After you vote, place your ballot in the ballot box by the door.
- Officials opened the ballot box and began counting the votes.
ballot measure
1/bˈælət mˈɛʒɚ/
fixed phrase
proposal for law decided by voters
A plan for a new law or rule that is written on the ballot so that people can vote for or against it.
Examples
- The ballot measure to raise the minimum wage passed easily.
- Several environmental ballot measures will appear in the next election.
cast a ballot
1/kˈæst ə bˈælət/
fixed phrase
submit your vote in an election
To vote in an election by filling in a ballot and putting it in the box or sending it in.
Examples
- Citizens lined up outside the school to cast a ballot in the presidential election.
- She cast a ballot for the first time after becoming a citizen.
mail-in ballot
1/mˈeɪl ˈɪn bˈælət/
fixed phrase
ballot sent and returned by mail
A ballot that you receive and send back through the mail instead of going to a polling place.
Examples
- Many older voters prefer to use a mail-in ballot.
- Election workers spent days counting mail-in ballots from across the state.
on the ballot
1/ˈɔn ðə bˈælət/
fixed phrase
officially listed as something to vote on
Officially included as a person or question that people can vote for or against.
Examples
- Her name will be on the ballot in all fifty states.
- The proposal didn’t get enough signatures to appear on the ballot this year.
secret ballot
1/sˈikɹɪt bˈælət/
fixed phrase
voting where choices are private
A way of voting where no one can see who each person votes for.
Examples
- Leaders are elected by secret ballot to protect members from pressure.
- The committee insisted on a secret ballot before making the final decision.
spoil your ballot
1/spˈɔɪl jˈʊɹ bˈælət/
fixed phrase
mark a ballot so it cannot count
To make a mistake on your ballot or mark it in a wrong way so it cannot be counted.
Examples
- If you write your name on the paper, you will spoil your ballot.
- Some voters chose to spoil their ballots in protest.
stuff the ballot box
1/stˈʌf ðə bˈælət bˈɑks/
idiom
add fake votes to change result
To cheat in an election by secretly putting extra, false ballots in the box to change the result.
Examples
- Observers were sent to make sure no one tried to stuff the ballot box.
- The candidate was accused of attempting to stuff the ballot box in several districts.