1. U.S. Politics.
a. a regularly scheduled local, state, or national election in which voters elect officeholders. Cf. primary (def. 15).
b. a state or national election, as opposed to a local election.
2. Brit. an election, which must be held at any time within five years of the last election, in which constituents elect members of the House of Commons. Cf. by-election .
[ 1710-20, Amer. ]