vote of no confidence

[ voht uhv noh kon-fi-duhns ]

noun

1. 1. (in a legislative or similar body) a vote of confidence, from the perspective of those demanding it in the hope of a negative outcome for the party or person in power:

      The board of directors survived a vote of no confidence Wednesday.

   2. a negative outcome of such a vote; a decision by the majority of members of a legislature or similar body against the person or party in power:

      UK prime minister James Callaghan was defeated by a vote of no confidence in 1979.

2. any formal vote, as in a general election, in which the majority votes against the person or party in power:

   The election was a clear vote of no confidence in the PM—not only did his party lose, but he lost his own seat.

3. any expression of lack of support or confidence:

   He says the existence of militias in his country is a vote of no confidence in the government's ability to provide justice and security.

vote of no confidence

noun

1. parliament a vote on a motion put by the Opposition censuring an aspect of the Government's policy; if the motion is carried the Government is obliged to resign Also calledvote of censure

Word History and Origins

Origin of vote of no confidence¹

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

Mr Corcoran, who quit in July just before he was due to face a vote of no confidence over the state of the local authority's finances, claimed mainstream schools were "starved of funds" and "do not have the resources to cope".

From BBC

With more than 120 members of parliament, the RN has leverage over the minority government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier because it can decide at any time to support a vote of no confidence and potentially bring it down.

From BBC

This led to the collapse of a co-operation agreement between his party and Plaid Cymru, and he subsequently lost a non-binding vote of no confidence in the Senedd.

From BBC

In June, Mr Gething lost a vote of no confidence in the Senedd - when two Labour members were off sick - but insisted he would not resign.

From BBC

Almost seven weeks after the election, and a supposed political truce that he called during the Paris Olympics, he now has the difficult task of finding a candidate who can form a government that does not collapse at the first sign of a vote of no confidence.

From BBC