primary election: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, Political, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “primary election” mean?
An election held by a political party to select its candidate for a public office before the general election.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An election held by a political party to select its candidate for a public office before the general election.
A preliminary round of voting within a party to determine who will represent that party on the official ballot; a crucial step in the democratic process of candidate selection.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term and the institution are almost exclusively American. While the UK has internal party selection processes (e.g., hustings, selections), they are not referred to as 'primary elections' in common parlance.
Connotations
In American usage, it connotes grassroots democracy, party vetting, and campaign season. In British usage, if used, it is understood as a direct borrowing of an American political process.
Frequency
Very high frequency in US political/news contexts; extremely low frequency in general UK English.
Grammar
How to Use “primary election” in a Sentence
[Party] holds a primary election in [State][Candidate] is running in the primary election for [Office]The primary election will be held on [Date]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “primary election” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The party will primary its candidates next spring.
- She was primaried by a more radical opponent.
American English
- The incumbent is being primaried by a challenger from his own party.
- They decided to primary their candidate early.
adjective
British English
- The primary-election process can be lengthy.
- Primary-election rules vary by state.
American English
- Primary election day is Tuesday.
- He's focusing on primary-election voters.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used outside of political risk analysis or lobbying contexts.
Academic
Used in political science, American studies, and comparative politics.
Everyday
Common in US English during election cycles; understood but seldom used in UK English.
Technical
Precise term in electoral systems, with subtypes: closed primary, open primary, blanket primary.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “primary election”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “primary election”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “primary election”
- Using 'primary election' to refer to a general election (they are distinct stages).
- Using it in UK contexts where 'selection process' or 'hustings' is more appropriate.
- Misspelling as 'primery election'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A primary election is an intra-party contest to select a nominee. A general election is the final, inter-party contest where voters choose the actual officeholder from among the party nominees.
No. Primaries are a hallmark of the American electoral system. Most other democracies use different internal party mechanisms (e.g., party conferences, committee selections) to choose candidates.
A primary is a secret-ballot election run by state authorities. A caucus is a local meeting where party members openly debate and vote, often requiring more time and public commitment from participants.
It depends on the state's rules. In a 'closed primary,' only registered party members can vote. In an 'open primary,' any registered voter can participate, regardless of party affiliation.
An election held by a political party to select its candidate for a public office before the general election.
Primary election: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpraɪməri ɪˈlɛkʃ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpraɪˌmɛri əˈlɛkʃ(ə)n/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to come out of the primaries battered”
- “the primary season”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PRImary election comes FIRST in the election process, like a PRIMARY school comes before secondary school.
Conceptual Metaphor
POLITICS IS A RACE (the primary is a qualifying heat).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of a primary election?