Word
elected
Phoneticselect·ed
US/ɪˈɫɛktəd/
UK/ɪlˈɛktɪd/
Definitions
01chosen by vote
B1 · Intermediate
v. to have been chosen for a position because people voted for you.
v. the past participle of 'elect', indicating the selection of a candidate for office through a formal voting process.
“She was elected as the new class president by a large majority.”
“After a long and difficult campaign, he was finally elected to the city council with nearly sixty percent of the popular vote.”
Usage
Often used in the passive voice with 'as' or 'to'.
02not yet in office
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. describes someone who has won an election but has not officially started their new job yet.
adj. denoting a person who has been chosen for a position but has not yet been inaugurated or assumed the duties of office.
“The president-elected spent the weeks before the ceremony planning his new team.”
“The governor-elected met with the outgoing administration to ensure a smooth transition of power before the January inauguration.”
Usage
Usually follows the noun it modifies, often hyphenated as in 'president-elect'.
03the chosen ones
C2 · Proficiency Plural noun Religion Formal · Literary
n. a group of people who have been specially chosen for something.
n. a group of individuals selected or set apart, often used in a religious context for those chosen for salvation.
“The preacher spoke about the elected who would find peace.”
“The theological debate centered on whether the elected were chosen through their own deeds or through divine grace alone.”
Teaching tip
In modern English, this sense is rare outside of religious or very formal literary contexts.
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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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