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Plurality

[ploo-ral-i-tee]

noun, plural -ties.

the excess of votes received by the leading candidate, in an election in which there are three or more candidates, over those received by the next candidate (distinguished from majority).

more than half of the whole; the majority.

a number greater than one.

fact of being numerous.

a large number; multitude.

EXPAND

state or fact of being plural.

Ecclesiastical.

the holding by one person of two or more benefices at the same time; pluralism.

any of the benefices so held.

COLLAPSE

Origin:
1325–75; Middle English pluralite < Old French < Late Latin plūrālitās. See plural, -ity

Related forms

non·plu·ral·i·ty, noun, plural -ties.

Can be confused: majority, plurality (see synonym note at majority).

Synonyms
1. See majority.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To Plurality

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Plurality is always a great word to know.

So is quincunx. Does it mean:

an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.

a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.

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Example Sentences

His opinion, joined by two other justices in the seven-justice majority, was the plurality opinion.

Critics and rivals say that the move would threaten media plurality.

Earlier philosophers pondered the plurality of worlds with less dire consequences.

EXPAND

His opinion, joined by two other justices in the seven-justice majority, was the plurality opinion.

Critics and rivals say that the move would threaten media plurality.

Earlier philosophers pondered the plurality of worlds with less dire consequences.

It is a plurality of different things that do not share any one element but nevertheless bear a resemblance to one another.

Initially, the initiative had plurality support in the polls.

The main effect of audience fragmentation is something well worth having: plurality.

But even back then a plurality of respondents opposed bank nationalisation.

Maybe not a true majority, but a plurality would be required.

And, of course, the existing plurality of parties already means there is room for quite a lot of opinions.

Here is a secular answer: because our system of elections elects those with the majority or plurality of votes.

The four judges in the plurality said there would not necessarily have to be a fully-fledged criminal trial.

Lawyers representing death-row inmates said the plurality opinion presented them two challenges.

The ruling coalition has no chance of keeping its supermajority, but might with luck win a simple majority, or plurality.

Such paradoxes are a well-known characteristic of plurality voting systems.

The trend toward electing directors by majority rather than by plurality could have a huge effect.

Plurality is a good thing but plurality only works when there is also mutual respect.

In each chapter he presents a plurality of views from the leaders of one of the five fields at hand.

The novelist, unlike the lyric poet or essayist, must command many styles and speak to us through a plurality of.

After all, despite a religious plurality for one religious sect.

Among other things, they managed to convince a plurality of voters that the deeply unpopular.

It probably will not suffice for her to win a narrow plurality of delegates.

The supposed key is single-seat plurality elections.

It was the only month of his second term when a plurality was against him.

COLLAPSE

Collins

World English Dictionary

plurality (plʊəˈrælɪtɪ)

—n , pl -ties
1.	the state of being plural or numerous
2.	maths a number greater than one
3.	(US), (Canadian) British equivalent: relative majority the excess of votes or seats won by the winner of an election over the runner-up when no candidate or party has more than 50 per cent
4.	a large number
5.	the greater number; majority
6.	another word for pluralism

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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