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Synonyms

plebiscite

American  
[pleb-uh-sahyt, -sit] / ˈplɛb əˌsaɪt, -sɪt /

noun

  1. a direct vote of the qualified voters of a state in regard to some important public question.

  2. the vote by which the people of a political unit determine autonomy or affiliation with another country.

plebiscite British  
/ pləˈbɪsɪtərɪ, ˈplɛbɪˌsaɪt, -sɪt /

noun

  1. a direct vote by the electorate of a state, region, etc, on some question of usually national importance, such as union with another state or acceptance of a government programme

  2. any expression or determination of public opinion on some matter

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
plebiscite Cultural  

  1. A vote of an entire nation or other large political unit on an issue of great importance. A plebiscite is not an election, for there are no candidates. Rather, people vote yes or no on a proposition.

Other Word Forms

  • plebiscitary adjective

Etymology

Origin of plebiscite

1525–35; < French < Latin plēbīscītum decree of the plebs, equivalent to plēbī (for plēbis, plēbēī genitive singular of plēbs, plēbēs plebs ) + scītum resolution, decree, noun use of neuter of scītus, past participle of scīscere to enact, decree, originally, to seek to know, learn, inchoative of scīre to know

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In the daily plebiscite on America, this Ivy League historian votes “Yes, but.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

He listed off a string of achievements by the Greens under his leadership, including the party's pivotal role in the marriage equality plebiscite, the First Nations Voice to Parliament referendum, and advancing "world-leading climate legislation".

From BBC • May 8, 2025

History is not a plebiscite in which 50% of the current population decides what’s true and important.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 22, 2024

This made it more a plebiscite than an actual election, with posters of Hadi above each ballot box.

From Slate • Mar. 12, 2024

A sort of plebiscite in 1841 had been given to Sir Robert Peel.

From Social Transformations of the Victorian Age A Survey of Court and Country by Escott, T. H. S. (Thomas Hay Sweet)

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.