/ ɪˈlekʃn; NAmE / noun
1.
[ U , C ] the process of choosing a person or a group of people for a position, especially a political position, by voting :
election campaigns / results
to win / lose an election
to fight an election
to vote in an election
In America, presidential elections are held every four years.
The prime minister is about to call (= announce) an election .
( BrE )
How many candidates are standing for election ?
( NAmE )
to run for election
2.
election (as sth) | election (to sth) [ U ] the fact of having been chosen by election :
We welcome his election as president.
a year after her election to the committee
—see also by-election , general election
••
SYNONYMS
election
vote ♦ poll ♦ referendum ♦ straw poll ♦ ballot ♦ show of hands
These are all words for an event in which people choose a representative or decide sth by voting.
election
an occasion on which people officially choose a political representative or government by voting:
Who did you vote for in the last election?
vote
an occasion on which a group of people vote for sb / sth:
They took a vote on who should go first.
poll
( journalism ) the process of voting in an election:
They suffered a defeat at the polls .
referendum
an occasion on which all the adults in a country can vote on a particular issue
straw poll
an occasion on which a number of people are asked in an informal way to give their opinion about sth:
I took a quick straw poll among my colleagues to see how many agreed.
ballot
the system of voting by marking an election paper, especially in secret; an occasion on which a vote is held:
The leader will be chosen by secret ballot.
NOTE
Ballot is usually used about a vote within an organization rather than an occasion on which the public vote.
show of hands
an occasion on which a group of people vote on sth by raising their hands.
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
a national / local / federal / democratic / free / fair election / vote / poll / referendum / ballot
a presidential / parliamentary / congressional / council election / poll
to conduct a(n) election / vote / poll / referendum / straw poll / ballot
to have a(n) election / vote / poll / referendum / straw poll / ballot / show of hands
to hold a(n) election / vote / poll / referendum / straw poll / ballot
take a vote / straw poll / show of hands
a(n) election / referendum campaign / result / victory / defeat
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : via Old French from Latin electio(n-) , from eligere pick out, from e- (variant of ex- ) out + legere to pick.