general election: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Formal/Neutral
Quick answer
What does “general election” mean?
A national election in which all or most members of a country's legislature are chosen, as opposed to a partial or local election.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A national election in which all or most members of a country's legislature are chosen, as opposed to a partial or local election.
A major electoral event determining the composition of a national or regional governing body, often used as a de facto referendum on the current government's performance and future national direction.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, it refers to an election for all 650 seats in the House of Commons. In the US, it refers to the final election for national (and often state) offices where candidates from different parties, nominated in primaries, compete.
Connotations
UK: Strongly associated with parliamentary sovereignty and the potential for immediate change of government. US: Often seen as the culmination of a long campaign cycle following party primaries.
Frequency
Similar high frequency in political contexts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “general election” in a Sentence
The [POLITICAL PARTY] is preparing for the general election.The Prime Minister has called a general election for [DATE].The outcome of the general election will determine who forms the next government.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “general election” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The government may choose to general-election in the autumn.
- They are busy general-electing across the constituency.
American English
- The party hopes to general-election its way to a majority.
- The senator is focused on general-electing in key states.
adverb
British English
- The policy was announced general-electionly.
- They campaigned general-electionly across the region.
American English
- The candidate spoke general-electionly about national issues.
- The ad is running general-electionly in all markets.
adjective
British English
- The general-election campaign is in full swing.
- General-election fever has gripped the nation.
American English
- General-election polling shows a tight race.
- This is a key general-election battleground state.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Market volatility often increases in the run-up to a general election due to policy uncertainty.
Academic
The study analysed voter turnout patterns in three consecutive general elections.
Everyday
Are you going to vote in the general election next month?
Technical
The Fixed-term Parliaments Act altered the mechanism for triggering a UK general election.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “general election”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “general election”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “general election”
- Using 'the' unnecessarily (e.g., 'He won general election' – should be 'won the general election').
- Confusing it with 'primary election' (US) or 'local election'.
- Misspelling as 'generale election'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A general election chooses all (or most) members of a legislative body at once. A by-election (or 'special election' in the US) is held to fill a single vacant seat between general elections.
It varies by country. In the UK, they are typically held every five years under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, but can be called earlier. In the US, federal general elections for Congress are held every two years (for all House members and one-third of Senators).
No, they are distinct. A presidential election specifically chooses the head of state. However, in some countries like the US, a presidential election and a congressional general election often occur on the same day.
A snap election is a general election called earlier than expected, usually to gain political advantage or to resolve a parliamentary deadlock.
A national election in which all or most members of a country's legislature are chosen, as opposed to a partial or local election.
General election is usually formal/neutral in register.
General election: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdʒenrəl ɪˈlekʃn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdʒenərəl ɪˈlekʃn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's election time.”
- “The country goes to the polls.”
- “A vote for change.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: a GENERAL election is for the GENERAL population to choose their GENERAL (overall) government.
Conceptual Metaphor
POLITICS IS WAR (e.g., 'battle for votes', 'campaign trail', 'political showdown').
Practice
Quiz
In the UK political system, what is the main purpose of a general election?