What does electable mean?
Electable is an adjective used almost entirely in politics to describe a candidate who is perceived as capable of winning an election. A politician deemed electable is thought to have the appeal, credibility, and broad support needed to persuade voters, regardless of whether observers agree with their policies. The word rose to prominence in twentieth-century political commentary, especially in Britain and the United States, where debates over a leader's electability often shape which candidates parties choose. Its negative form, unelectable, is arguably even more common, frequently deployed to argue that a popular figure within a party would fail in a national contest. Because judgments of electability rest on perception rather than fact, the word can carry a strategic or even cynical tone, suggesting that image matters as much as substance. For anyone following election coverage, it is an essential term for understanding how political parties weigh popularity against principle when selecting their candidates.
adjectiveHaving qualities that make a person likely to win an election; capable of being elected to public office.
- (of a person) having the personal appeal and credibility to win an election.
- (rarely) able to be selected or chosen by vote in a general sense.
"Party strategists questioned whether the senator was still electable after the scandal."
"Voters may admire her principles, but party elders worry she isn't electable in a national race."
"The committee sought the most electable candidate rather than the most experienced one."
In British politics, "unelectable" has been used as a weapon so often that its opposite became one of the most fought-over words in every election campaign.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of electable
Electable derives from the verb elect, which entered English via Old French from the Latin eligere, meaning "to pick out" or "to choose," formed from e- ("out") and legere ("to gather, select"). The suffix -able, from Latin -abilis, marks capability. The adjective emerged in English in the seventeenth century but gained real currency only in modern political discourse, alongside relatives such as election, electorate, and electoral.
How electable is actually used
The word is used almost exclusively in political contexts and often appears with negatives: calling someone "unelectable" is a common way of dismissing their prospects. It can carry a slightly cynical connotation, implying that electability is about image and voter appeal rather than merit.
Easily confused with electable
"Electable" means likely to be chosen by voters, while "eligible" means qualified or permitted under the rules.