supermajority

[ soo-per-muh-jawr-i-tee, -jor- ]

noun

, plural su·per·ma·jor·i·ties.

1. a majority that must represent some percentage more than a simple majority.
2. a majority greater than a specified number, as 60%, of the total: required to pass certain types of legislation, override vetos, etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of supermajority¹

super- + majority

Example Sentences

But if Democratic politicians don’t learn from this election, their supermajority dominance in Sacramento could start eroding.

From Los Angeles Times

By 2012, Democrats achieved a supermajority in the state legislature that they have rarely relinquished since.

From Los Angeles Times

Voters’ supermajority support for the charter reforms demonstrates that Angelenos back big changes to fix City Hall.

From Los Angeles Times

What that ballot measure means—and whether it’s truly enforceable—will depend on who sits on the state’s Supreme Court, and on Tuesday, voters elected Republicans to all three of the court’s open seats, forging a 6–1 conservative supermajority.

From Slate

Laws protecting abortion rights were backed by the majority of voters in most states, even deep-red ones like Missouri, Montana, and even Florida — where the initiative only failed because Republicans set a 60% supermajority threshold.

From Salon