/ plʊəˈræləti; NAmE plʊˈr-/ noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
[ C , usually sing. ] ( formal ) a large number :
a plurality of influences
2.
[ C , usually sing. ] ( politics ) ( US ) the number of votes given to one person, political party, etc. when this number is less than 50% but more than any other single person, etc. receives :
In order to be elected, a candidate needs only a plurality of the votes cast.
—compare majority
3.
[ U ] ( grammar ) the state of being plural
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French pluralite , from late Latin pluralitas , from Latin pluralis relating to more than one, from plus , plur- more.