# electoral

/ɪˈɫɛktɝəɫ/ (US) · /ɪlˈɛktəɹəl/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. relating to elections

adjective · CEFR B2

connected to the process of voting or holding an election.

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

- The country is preparing for major electoral changes before the next vote.
- 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. relating to electors

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

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

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

- The electoral college meets to choose the next president.
- The candidate focused his campaign on the specific needs of the electoral district to ensure a majority in the upcoming regional assembly.

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

## Examples

- The country is preparing for major electoral changes next year.
- The commission is responsible for redrawing electoral boundaries to ensure each district has a similar number of voters.
- Proponents of the new law argue that it will enhance electoral integrity by introducing more rigorous identity verification at polling stations.

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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.