electorate

American  

[ih-lek-ter-it] / ɪˈlɛk tər ɪt /

noun

1. the body of persons entitled to vote in an election.

2. the dignity or territory of an Elector of the Holy Roman Empire.

---

electorate British  

/ ɪˈlɛktərɪt /

noun

1. the body of all qualified voters

2. the rank, position, or territory of an elector of the Holy Roman Empire

3. the area represented by a Member of Parliament

4. the voters in a constituency

---

Etymology

Origin of electorate

First recorded in 1665–75; elector + -ate ³

Example Sentences

In politics it is particularly important to demonstrate publicly as a group when the electorate feels their representatives aren’t listening to them.

From The Wall Street Journal

Natcen came up with six categories of Welsh voter, with the aim of representing a broad spread of opinions and beliefs across the electorate.

From BBC

Defra said if waste collection authorities did not comply with their statutory duties, they risked judicial review - but as independent bodies, councils were accountable to their electorate rather than ministers or government departments.

From BBC

These volatile, double-digit voting shifts directly contrast more stable voting patterns among other major demographic groups, including the Black and white electorates, where shifts from cycle to cycle tend to be just a few points.

From Los Angeles Times

His promise of change resonated with an electorate that was angry at corruption, nepotism and elite rule.

From BBC

Related Words

• constituency
• voter