suffrage

[ suhf-rij ]

noun

1. the right to vote, especially in a political election.
2. a vote given in favor of a proposed measure, candidate, or the like.
3. Ecclesiastical. a prayer, especially a short intercessory prayer or petition.

suffrage

/ ˈsʌfrɪdʒ /

noun

1. the right to vote, esp in public elections; franchise
2. the exercise of such a right; casting a vote
3. a supporting vote
4. a prayer, esp a short intercessory prayer

suffrage

1. The right to vote ( see franchise ). In the United States, the term is often associated with the women's movement to win voting rights. ( See suffragist .)

Other Words From

• an·ti·suf·frage adjective
• non·suf·frage noun
• pre·suf·frage noun
• pro·suf·frage adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of suffrage¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin suffrāgium “voting tablet, a vote cast in an assembly (for a law or candidate), an act of voting or the exercise of the right to vote, the decision reached by a vote, an expression of approval, influence or promotion on behalf of a candidate,” equivalent to Latin suffrāg(ārī) “to express public support, vote or canvass for, support” + -ium noun suffix; -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of suffrage¹

C14: from Latin suffrāgium

Example Sentences

During the webinar titled “Promoting the Vote and Protecting the Vote,” held in celebration of women’s suffrage, Abrams will also discuss racial justice and voting.

From Washington Blade

Reliable data about women’s voting patterns in the 1920s and 1930s is scarce, but according to Wolbrecht, some women in the years after suffrage never stopped believing that voting simply wasn’t their job.

From FiveThirtyEight

Only recently, did I begin to question why LGBTQ women and women of color were left out of the prevailing narrative of women’s suffrage.

From Washington Blade

San Diego County voters in 1911 supported suffrage by 3,331 to 2,464 votes, providing about a third of the votes in a statewide winning margin that was “a shot in the arm” for the national movement.

From Voice of San Diego

Then, in 1911, California, by far the most populous state in the West, joined them when voters supported suffrage by a tight margin of 51-49 percent.

From Voice of San Diego

It is the reason the Constitution expressly forbids denying “equal Suffrage in the Senate.”

From The Daily Beast

Time to put to good use the suffrage and the education that our foremothers of all classes and colors worked hard to win us.

From The Daily Beast

At least since the last world war, most of the developed world has lived with the idea that popular suffrage is self-correcting.

From The Daily Beast

But these 60-somethings share more than the bonds of suffrage.

From The Daily Beast

Ironically, the weekend incident raises an important question about whether there truly is suffrage for Muslim women in America.

From The Daily Beast

At the convention, suffrage was extended slightly although all non-real estate owners still could not vote.

From Project Gutenberg

In 1848 he voted for Hume's household suffrage motion, and introduced a bill for the repeal of the Game Laws.

From Project Gutenberg

One of these councilmen shall be elected Mayor by the suffrage of all those who shall have taken the oath of the Commune.

From Project Gutenberg

Not at all: a very different reason is now assigned for the extension of the suffrage in Ireland.

From Project Gutenberg

Never had universal suffrage been treated with such primitive and barbarous contempt.

From Project Gutenberg