(pluralities)
1.
If there is a ~ of things, a number of them exist. (FORMAL)
Federalism implies a ~ of political authorities, each with its own powers.
QUANT-PLURAL
2.
If a candidate, political party, or idea has the support of a ~ of people, they have more support than any other candidate, party, or idea. (FORMAL)
The Conservative party retained a ~ of the votes...
QUANT-PLURAL
3.
A ~ in an election is the number of votes that the winner gets, when this is less than the total number of votes for all the other candidates. (AM)
He only got a ~ on November 3rd, just 49 percent.
N-COUNT
4.
A ~ in an election is the difference in the number of votes between the candidate who gets the most votes and the candidate who comes second. (AM)
Franklin had won with a ~ in electoral votes of 449 to 82.
= majority
N-COUNT