Definition

1. Verb:

   • To choose someone for a position by voting: The primary meaning of "elect" is to select a person for a public office or a role through a formal vote.
   • To choose or decide to do something: A more formal or deliberate sense, meaning to make a choice or decision, often between options.

2. Adjective:

   • Chosen for a position but not yet holding it: Used after a noun to describe someone who has been voted into an office but has not yet started the job.
   • Chosen as the best; exclusive: A formal or literary use to describe a select, elite group of people or things.

3. Noun (plural: the elect):

   • A privileged or exclusive group: Refers to a small group of people chosen for special favor, status, or power.
   • (Theology) Those chosen by God for salvation: In religious contexts, it refers to people believed to be chosen by God.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • The people will elect a new mayor next month.
  • After much thought, she elected to pursue a career in medicine.

• Adjective:

  • The president-elect will take the oath of office in January.
  • The club was an elect group of scholars and artists.

• Noun:

  • The policy was decided by a small council of the elect.
  • In Calvinist doctrine, salvation is reserved for the elect.

Advanced Usage

• "To be elected to something": To be chosen by vote for a specific position or membership.

  • She was elected to the board of directors.

• "The newly elected": Refers collectively to people who have just won an election.

  • The newly elected officials will be sworn in tomorrow.

Variants and Related Words

• Election (n): The process of choosing by vote.

  • The presidential election is held every four years.

• Elective (adj): Chosen by vote; or, optional (as in a course of study).

  • The student council is an elective position.
  • I'm taking an elective course in astronomy.

• Elector (n): A person who has the right to vote in an election.

  • Every elector should exercise their right to vote.

Synonyms

• Verb: Choose, select, vote in, pick, opt (for).
• Adjective: Chosen, select, elite.
• Noun: Elite, chosen, favored.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Elect" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its meanings are typically expressed directly.)

Related Idioms

• "The chosen few": Similar in meaning to "the elect," referring to a small, privileged group.

  • Only the chosen few were invited to the private viewing.

• "Vote into office": A phrase closely related to the primary verb meaning of "elect."

  • The candidate was voted into office by a large majority.

Adjective

1. elected but not yet installed in office
   • the president elect
2. selected as the best
   • an elect circle of artists
   • elite colleges

Noun

1. an exclusive group of people
   • one of the elect who have power inside the government

Verb

1. choose
   • I elected to have my funds deposited automatically
2. select by a vote for an office or membership
   • We elected him chairman of the board