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Definition of Plurality - 4 dictionary results

plu⋅ral⋅i⋅ty

  [ploo-ral-i-tee]
Use Plurality in a Sentence
–noun, plural -ties.
1. 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 ).
2. more than half of the whole; the majority.
3. a number greater than one.
4. fact of being numerous.
5. a large number; multitude.
6. state or fact of being plural.
7. Ecclesiastical.
a. the holding by one person of two or more benefices at the same time; pluralism.
b. any of the benefices so held.
Origin:
1325–75; ME pluralite < OF < LL plūrālitās. See plural, -ity

Synonyms:
1. See majority.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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plu·ral·i·ty   (plŏŏ-rāl'ĭ-tē)   
n.   pl. plu·ral·i·ties
  1. The state or fact of being plural.
  2. A large number or amount; a multitude.
  3. Ecclesiastical
    1. Pluralism.
    2. The offices or benefices held by a pluralist.
    3. In a contest of more than two choices, the number of votes cast for the winning choice if this number is not more than one half of the total votes cast.
    4. The number by which the vote of the winning choice in such a contest exceeds that of the closest opponent.
    1. In a contest of more than two choices, the number of votes cast for the winning choice if this number is not more than one half of the total votes cast.
    2. The number by which the vote of the winning choice in such a contest exceeds that of the closest opponent.
  5. The larger or greater part.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Plurality

Plu*ral"i*ty\, n.; pl. pluralities. [L. pluralitas: cf. F. pluralit['e].]

1. The state of being plural, or consisting of more than one; a number consisting of two or more of the same kind; as, a plurality of worlds; the plurality of a verb.

2. The greater number; a majority; also, the greatest of several numbers; in elections, the excess of the votes given for one candidate over those given for another, or for any other, candidate. When there are more than two candidates, the one who receives the plurality of votes may have less than a majority. See Majority.

Take the plurality of the world, and they are neither wise nor good. --L'Estrange.

3. (Eccl.) See Plurality of benefices, below.

Plurality of benefices (Eccl.), the possession by one clergyman of more than one benefice or living. Each benefice thus held is called a plurality. [Eng.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Main Entry: plu·ral·i·ty
Pronunciation: plu-'ra-l&-tE
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -ties
: an amount or group (as of votes) that is greater than any other amount or group within a total but that is not more than half; especially : a group of justices on an appeals court who do not form a majority but with whose opinion enough other justices concur to render it the decision of the court —see also plurality opinion at OPINION —compare MAJORITY
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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