election
gb/ɪlˈɛkʃən/ us/ɪlˈɛkʃən/
A2
English
~ 700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
event
1
Process of choosing by voting
A time when people vote to choose a leader or decide something.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] wins/loses an election
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'election' with 'vote'. A 'vote' is the act of choosing, while an 'election' is the whole event.
Synonyms
vote (Refers to the act of casting a ballot, not the entire event.)
|
poll (Can mean the process of voting or the place where voting happens; less formal than 'election'.)
Antonyms
appointment (Choosing someone for a position without an election or voting process.)
Collocations
hold an election
|win an election
|lose an election
|presidential election
|general election
Themes
politics
|government
|society
|law
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The country will hold a general election next month.
- She won the election by a large majority.
- Local elections are scheduled for the spring.
- The election results were announced late at night.
Learner examples
- We have an election at school.
- The election is next week.
- He won the election.
- People vote in an election.
Noun
formal
C1
action
2
Act of making a choice
The act of choosing between two or more things.
Usage pattern:
make an election between [options]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this meaning is formal and less common in everyday conversation.
Synonyms
choice (More common in everyday contexts; less formal than 'election'.)
|
selection (Emphasizes the process of picking from a group.)
Antonyms
chance (Indicates something decided randomly, without deliberate choice.)
Collocations
by one's own election
|make an election
Themes
decision-making
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Examples
- By his own election, he left the company to start his own business.
- The contract allows you the election to withdraw early.
- She exercised her election to remain silent.
Learner examples
- He made the election to leave.
- You have the election to choose your class.
- It was her own election to move.
Grammar
Dictionary form
election
IPA
GB/ɪlˈɛkʃən/
US/ɪlˈɛkʃən/
Syllables & stress
elec - tion (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tion)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: election
- Plural: election, elections
Word family
Expressions
general election
1/d͡ʒˈɛnɚəl ɪlˈɛkʃən/
fixed phrase
Nationwide voting event
An election where people in a country vote for their government leaders.
Examples
- The general election will be held in November.
- Voter turnout was high during the general election.
local election
1/lˈoʊkəl ɪlˈɛkʃən/
fixed phrase
Election for local officials
An election where people choose leaders for their town or city.
Examples
- Local elections often have lower voter turnout than national ones.
- She was elected mayor in the last local election.
midterm election
1/mˈɪdtˌɚm ɪlˈɛkʃən/
fixed phrase
Election held halfway through term
An election in the middle of a president's term, often for other government jobs like Congress.
Examples
- Midterm elections often change the balance of power in Congress.
- Voter interest in midterm elections is growing.
presidential election
1/pɹˌɛzɪdˈɛnʃəl ɪlˈɛkʃən/
fixed phrase
an election to choose a president
An official vote where people choose the next president.
Examples
- The presidential election takes place every four years in the U.S.
- The next presidential election is scheduled for November.
- Debates are an important part of the presidential election process.
- International observers monitored the presidential election for signs of fraud.
- Young voters turned out in record numbers for the presidential election.