# elected

/ɪˈɫɛktəd/ (US) · /ɪlˈɛktɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/elected
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. chosen by vote

verb · CEFR B1

to have been chosen for a position because people voted for you.

For teachers: 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'.

### 2. not yet in office

adjective · CEFR B2

describes someone who has won an election but has not officially started their new job yet.

For teachers: 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'.

### 3. the chosen ones

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Literary

a group of people who have been specially chosen for something.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The citizens elected a new mayor yesterday.
- The committee members elected a new chairperson to lead the discussions for the next three years.
- After weeks of intense campaigning and public debate, the student body elected a representative who promised to prioritise mental health resources and campus safety.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.