Definition

Noun: 1. More than half of the total votes cast in an election: A voting outcome where one option receives a number of votes greater than 50% of the total valid votes. This is often required to win an election outright without needing a second round or runoff.

Usage

• The term is primarily used in the context of elections, voting, and political decision-making.
• It specifies a precise threshold: over half, not merely the largest share (which is a "plurality" or "simple majority").

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "To achieve/secure/gain an absolute majority": Common verb collocations describing the act of obtaining this level of support.
  • The ruling party hopes to secure an absolute majority in the upcoming general election.
• "To fall short of an absolute majority": Used when a candidate or party receives the most votes but not over 50%.
  • The leading candidate won 48% of the vote, falling just short of an absolute majority.

Variants and Related Words

• Majority (Noun): Often used more loosely to mean either "the greater number" (plurality) or "more than half" (absolute majority). Context is key.
• Simple Majority / Plurality (Noun): The largest number of votes cast for any candidate or option, but not necessarily more than half.
• Supermajority (Noun): A specified higher threshold than a simple majority, such as two-thirds or three-quarters, often required for significant decisions.

Synonyms

• Majority (when clearly defined as >50%)
• Clear majority
• Outright majority

Antonyms

• Plurality
• Simple majority (when it means the largest share but less than 50%)
• Minority

Noun

1. (elections) more than half of the votes