suffrage

[ suhf-rij ]
See synonyms for suffrage on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the right to vote, especially in a political election.

  2. a vote given in favor of a proposed measure, candidate, or the like.

  1. Ecclesiastical. a prayer, especially a short intercessory prayer or petition.

Origin of suffrage

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin suffrāgium “voting tablet, a vote cast in an assembly (for a law or candidate), an act of voting or the exercise of the right to vote, the decision reached by a vote, an expression of approval, influence or promotion on behalf of a candidate,” equivalent to Latin suffrāg(ārī) “to express public support, vote or canvass for, support” + -ium noun suffix; see -ium

Other words from suffrage

  • an·ti·suf·frage, adjective
  • non·suf·frage, noun
  • pre·suf·frage, noun
  • pro·suf·frage, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use suffrage in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for suffrage

suffrage

/ (ˈsʌfrɪdʒ) /


noun
  1. the right to vote, esp in public elections; franchise

  2. the exercise of such a right; casting a vote

  1. a supporting vote

  2. a prayer, esp a short intercessory prayer

Origin of suffrage

1
C14: from Latin suffrāgium

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for suffrage

suffrage

[ (suf-rij) ]


The right to vote (see franchise). In the United States, the term is often associated with the women's movement to win voting rights. (See suffragist.)

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.