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

Example Sentences

Reform UK have taken a Wolverhampton council seat from Labour in a by-election sparked by the death of a councillor.

From BBC

Tories here have fond memories of knocking on doors for Jenrick when he was first elected in a by-election a decade ago.

From BBC

An MP at the age of 32, he arrived at Westminster as the first Conservative in 25 years to hold a seat for the party in a by-election while it was in power.

From BBC

She will begin this next phase of her campaign alongside an aspiring Tory councillor contesting a council by-election on the outskirts of London.

From BBC

His Liberal party lost two consequential by-elections this summer in Toronto and Montreal, both in strongholds previously held by the party for years.

From BBC