Word
ballot
Phoneticsbal·lot, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbæɫət/
UK/bˈælət/
Definitions
01voting paper
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. the piece of paper you use to mark your choice in an election.
n. the physical slip of paper or electronic record used to register a secret vote.
“The official handed her a ballot and pointed toward the private voting booth.”
“Voters were instructed to mark their preferred candidate clearly to ensure the ballot would not be disqualified during the counting process.”
02the voting process
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. the system or act of voting in secret.
n. the procedure of secret voting or a specific round of such voting.
“The union members decided to hold a secret ballot to choose their new leader.”
“The committee resolved to settle the dispute by ballot, ensuring that every member could express their preference without fear of social pressure.”
Synonyms
03list of candidates
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun American English
n. the list of all the people you can choose from in an election.
n. the list of candidates or proposed laws appearing on a specific election ticket.
“There were five different names on the ballot for the position of mayor.”
“Several independent candidates struggled to gather enough signatures to secure a spot on the official state ballot.”
04to ask for a vote
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to ask a group of people to vote on something.
v. to solicit a vote from a specific constituency, often used in the context of industrial action or organizational changes.
“The company will ballot its workers to see if they agree with the new pay deal.”
“The trade union is legally required to ballot its entire membership before authorizing a nationwide strike.”
Usage
This verb is transitive and requires a direct object, usually the group being asked to vote.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “ballot” in context.
Verb
01. cast a ballot
“Thousands of citizens queued for hours in the rain to cast a ballot in the historic election.”
verb + noun
02. spoil a ballot
“Protesters were encouraged to spoil a ballot by writing messages on the paper instead of selecting a candidate.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. decisive ballot
“After three rounds of voting, the final and decisive ballot confirmed the new party leader.”
adj + noun
04. secret ballot
“The union members insisted on a secret ballot to ensure that no one felt intimidated during the vote.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. ballot box
“The integrity of the election depends on the security of the ballot box during transport.”
noun + noun
06. ballot paper
“Please ensure you mark your choice clearly on the ballot paper before folding it.”
noun + noun
Preposition
07. by ballot
“The committee decided that the new chairperson would be elected by ballot rather than a show of hands.”
prep + noun
08. ballot papers
Real-World Examples
“The record number of candidates also posed practical challenges, such as the need to use large tables to count ballot papers that measured a whopping 90cm in length.” “Napo, the probation union, said there was a 91% vote in favour in the ballot .” “The BMA balloted its members over a four-week period after doctors' leaders rejected a recommended 3.5% pay uplift from an independent pay body.” “A ballot on the proposed improved deal is due to conclude next week.” Etymology
Borrowed from Italian balota (obsolete), ballotta (“small ball, especially one used to register a vote”), from balla (“bale, bundle”) + -otta (suffix forming diminutive nouns); or from Middle French balote (obsolete), ballotte (“small ball used to register a vote”) (also compare Middle French balotiage, French ballottage (“second ballot, runoff”)); both ultimately from Proto-West Germanic ballu (“ball”), from Proto-Germanic balluz (“ball”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/ballot