Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A special election held between general elections to fill a vacancy, as for a parliamentary seat.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In Great Britain, an election held to fill a vacancy in Parliament.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun An election held by itself, not at the time of a general election.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun a special election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between general elections.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a special election between regular elections

Etymologies

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Examples

  • The reactions are typical for the perceived losers of a so-called by-election in South Korea, one held to fill vacant seats.

    Korea's Lee Mulls Shake Up After Election Evan Ramstad 2011

  • Ms. Clark has three months to call the by-election to fill the vacancy, but has said she wants to seek a seat in the legislature as soon as possible.

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed Justine Hunter 2011

  • Prime Minister Stephen Harper could at any time call a by-election in the riding of Toronto-Danforth which was left vacant by the death of Jack Layton.

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed GLORIA GALLOWAY 2012

  • After being sworn in as Premier in March, Ms. Clark, returning to politics after a six-year absence, needed a seat and called a by-election for May 11 when Mr. Campbell stepped down in Vancouver-Point Grey, which he had represented since 1996.

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed IAN BAILEY AND JUSTINE HUNTER 2011

  • I campaigned in the Monklands East by-election, back when the Blessed John Smith died and was succeeded by the not-so-very-blessed Helen.

    Greengairs Incinerator Alan Smart 2009

  • With speculation gowing on Speaker Michael Martin's future, pundits have started to ponder the prospects of an early by-election in his Glasgow North East (Springburn) constituency

    Archive 2009-05-01 Alan Smart 2009

  • And all the media were ther, knew fine well about this key by-election.

    Archive 2009-03-01 Alan Smart 2009

  • And all the media were ther, knew fine well about this key by-election.

    Bonnie Dundee! Alan Smart 2009

  • But Dundee Mayfield - won by the SNP from Labour on Thursday - was a really significant by-election - upon it lay the balance of power in one of Scotland's main cities.

    Archive 2009-03-01 Alan Smart 2009

  • With speculation gowing on Speaker Michael Martin's future, pundits have started to ponder the prospects of an early by-election in his Glasgow North East (Springburn) constituency

    For Foulkes Sake - step forward The Red Baron Alan Smart 2009

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