superdelegate

American  

[soo-per-del-i-git, ‑-geyt] / ˈsu pərˌdɛl ɪ gɪt, ‑ˌgeɪt /

Or super-delegate

noun

1. a party leader or elected public official chosen as an uncommitted delegate to a national political convention.

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superdelegate British  

/ ˈsuːpəˌdɛlɪɡɪt /

noun

1. another name for an unpledged delegate

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Etymology

Origin of superdelegate

First recorded in 1984

Example Sentences

For his trouble, an unnamed Democratic superdelegate, while talking to Didion, likened Jackson to a "terrorist."

From Salon • Dec. 28, 2021

“I get the theoretical rationale for having superdelegates,” said John Wisniewski, a New Jersey assemblyman and superdelegate for Sanders who heads the senator’s campaign in that state.

From Washington Post • Jun. 7, 2016

Dennis Archer, a superdelegate from Michigan and former mayor of Detroit, said lobbying was fine.

From The Guardian • Apr. 19, 2016

But the superdelegate trigger has never been pulled.

From Slate • Apr. 13, 2016

“I expect him to perform better in North Carolina than the conventional wisdom suggests,” said Jack Quinn, a Democratic superdelegate from Asheville, N.C., who is backing Mr. Sanders.

From New York Times • Mar. 11, 2016