What does election mean?
An election is a formal and organized process through which people cast votes to choose individuals for public office or other positions of authority. The term is central to democratic life, appearing constantly in discussions of government, civic participation, and political change — as in 'general election', 'election campaign', or 'election results'. Beyond politics, election can denote any formal act of choosing, though this broader sense is comparatively rare in everyday speech; it also carries an older theological meaning referring to God's choice of individuals for salvation, now mostly found in religious scholarship. The word derives from the Latin eligere, meaning 'to pick out' or 'to select', which also gave English words such as 'elect', 'electoral', and 'electorate'. Because elections embody the principle of collective decision-making, the word carries connotations of legitimacy, fairness, and popular will, making it indispensable in any discussion of how societies choose their leaders.
A formal organized process in which people vote to choose a person or group for a public office or position.
"Voters headed to the polls early on the morning of the national election."
Most commonly used in political contexts; frequently modified by adjectives such as 'general', 'presidential', 'local', or 'midterm'.
The act of choosing or selecting someone or something from among alternatives (formal).
"His election as team captain surprised no one who knew his leadership skills."
The plural is common when referring to multiple voting events, either across time ('past elections') or across jurisdictions ('local elections').
"The country has held peaceful elections every four years since independence."
The word election comes from Latin eligere — 'to pick out' — the same root that gives us 'elite': those chosen to stand out from the crowd.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of election
Election comes from the Latin eligere, meaning 'to pick out' or 'to select', formed from ex- ('out') plus legere ('to gather' or 'choose'). The word entered English via Old French eleccion during the Middle English period, initially carrying broad senses of choice before becoming strongly associated with the selection of officials by vote. It shares its Latin root with related English words such as 'elect', 'electoral', and 'electorate', all preserving the core idea of choosing out from a larger group.
Related word forms
How election is actually used
In political contexts, 'election' is neutral and standard across all registers. The theological sense ('divine election') is now largely confined to religious and academic writing, particularly in discussions of Calvinist doctrine. In British English, 'election' often refers specifically to parliamentary elections, while American English more commonly pairs it with 'presidential' or 'midterm'.
Easily confused with election
An election specifically involves voting to fill a position, while selection is any act of choosing, often without a formal vote.