by-election

or bye-e·lec·tion

[ bahy-i-lek-shuhn ]

noun

1. a special election, not held at the time of a general election, to fill a vacancy in Parliament.

by-election

noun

1. (in the United Kingdom and other countries of the Commonwealth) an election held during the life of a parliament to fill a vacant seat in the lower chamber
2. (in the US) a special election to fill a vacant elective position with an unexpired term

Word History and Origins

Origin of by-election¹

First recorded in 1875–80; by- + election