by-electionnoun [ C ]
uk/ˈbaɪ.ɪˌlek.ʃən/us/ˈbaɪ.ɪˌlek.ʃən/in the UK, an election that happens at a different time from a main election, to choose a Member of Parliament to replace one who has died or left his or her job
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Elections
- absentee ballot
- absentee vote
- absolute majority
- abstain
- abstention
- aye
- franchise
- general election
- gerrymandering
- go to the country idiom
- hat
- nominate
- rigging
- safe
- scrutineer
- secret ballot
- show of hands
- spoil
- stump
- vote of confidence
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Examples from literature
- A by-election had to be fought in Clare, Mr. Fitzgerald seeking re-election on joining the Government.
- A little later I was to speak somewhere in the North of England at a by-election in support of the party candidate.
- Consequently property-owners were not only cut down to one vote in one district at a general election, but were prevented from voting in another district at a by-election.
- I suppose I have fought as many by-elections as most people, and I know that all the advantages lie with the attacking force.
- Much more serious was the split with Labour, which led to the loss of seat after seat at by-elections, when the allied forces which stood behind the Parliament Act attacked each other and let the Tories in.