English Reference
adjective

electoral

adj.
US /ɪˈɫɛktɝəɫ/ UK /ɪlˈɛktəɹəl/ elec·toral

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    connected to the process of voting or holding an election.

    of or relating to the process of voting and the formal conduct of elections.

    Simple

    The country is preparing for major electoral changes before the next vote.

    In context

    The government proposed a series of electoral reforms designed to increase transparency and encourage higher voter turnout in rural districts.

    Usage

    Usually placed before a noun; it is a non-gradable adjective and cannot be 'very electoral'.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced FormalTechnical Law

    relating to the specific people or groups who have the right to vote.

    relating to or composed of electors, often referring to a specific body of voters in a formal system.

    Simple

    The electoral college meets to choose the next president.

    In context

    The candidate focused his campaign on the specific needs of the electoral district to ensure a majority in the upcoming regional assembly.

    Teacher's tip

    In the US, this sense is most commonly heard in the phrase 'Electoral College'.

Usage electoral commission · electoral reforms

The electoral commission said violence had "resulted in the theft of marked ballot papers".

BBC News· 14 Aug 2026

With the next general election due in 2027, Osun is one of the last major electoral tests before the national vote.

Al Jazeera· 14 Aug 2026

From elector + -al.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Common
Updated