general election

noun

: an election usually held at regular intervals in which candidates are elected in all or most constituencies of a nation or state

Examples of general election in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Executive orders to limit mail-in ballots, lawsuits over voter registration data, threats to funding and more have poured out of the White House leading up to the 2026 general election. — Denver Post, 23 Aug. 2026 The primary served as a test for the general election as candidates of all parties run on the same ballot and the top two vote-getters advance. — Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026 An Emerson College survey testing potential 2028 contests found Ossoff ahead of both Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in hypothetical general election matchups. — Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2026 But the general election requires Hilton to woo more than just GOP voters to win it all. — Linh Tat, Daily News, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for general election

Word History

First Known Use

1640, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of general election was in 1640

Rhymes for general election

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Browse Nearby Words

general education
general election
general endorsement
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Cite this Entry

“General election.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/general%20election. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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general election

noun
: an election usually held at regular intervals in which candidates are elected in all or most constituencies of a nation or state

More from Merriam-Webster on general election

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about general election

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