Can one use the word 'majority' for the leading alternative (in a three way split) even if the proportion in...
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If there is a political proposition with three alternatives and the leading alternative, that is to say that which command the most support, does not have 50% or more support can that alternative be described as commanding a majority?
Or is a majority strictly defined as having 50% or more support?
vocabulary
asked yesterday
S MeadenS Meaden
1319
|
show 1 more comment
If there is a political proposition with three alternatives and the leading alternative, that is to say that which command the most support, does not have 50% or more support can that alternative be described as commanding a majority?
Or is a majority strictly defined as having 50% or more support?
vocabulary
asked yesterday
S MeadenS Meaden
1319
1
Voted to close for lack of research because the answer provided clearly shows that the Q. could be answered by consulting a standard dictionary.
– TrevorD
yesterday
9
Americans in particular use the term plurality to mean the part of a group of people voting that is the largest part, but not larger than the total number of other people voting. They didn't actually get the "majority" of the votes (which always means more than 50%), but they were still the winners.
– FumbleFingers
yesterday
@TrevorD: can you then suggest what word is appropriate for a three way split? Most dictionary definitions seem to imply a two way split. So actually this question is more nuanced than your vote to close supposes.
– S Meaden
yesterday
What's wrong with the word used in your title: the leading group (or whatever)? Some would argue that "alternative" is also wrong because it implies a choice between only two groups.
– TrevorD
yesterday
@TrevorD: accepting answer below as poster has found the term 'relative majority'.
– S Meaden
yesterday
|
show 1 more comment
If there is a political proposition with three alternatives and the leading alternative, that is to say that which command the most support, does not have 50% or more support can that alternative be described as commanding a majority?
Or is a majority strictly defined as having 50% or more support?
vocabulary
asked yesterday
S MeadenS Meaden
1319
If there is a political proposition with three alternatives and the leading alternative, that is to say that which command the most support, does not have 50% or more support can that alternative be described as commanding a majority?
Or is a majority strictly defined as having 50% or more support?
vocabulary
vocabulary
asked yesterday
S MeadenS Meaden
1319
asked yesterday
S MeadenS Meaden
1319
asked yesterday
S MeadenS Meaden
1319
asked yesterday
S MeadenS Meaden
1319
asked yesterday
S MeadenS Meaden
1319
1319
1
Voted to close for lack of research because the answer provided clearly shows that the Q. could be answered by consulting a standard dictionary.
– TrevorD
yesterday
9
Americans in particular use the term plurality to mean the part of a group of people voting that is the largest part, but not larger than the total number of other people voting. They didn't actually get the "majority" of the votes (which always means more than 50%), but they were still the winners.
– FumbleFingers
yesterday
@TrevorD: can you then suggest what word is appropriate for a three way split? Most dictionary definitions seem to imply a two way split. So actually this question is more nuanced than your vote to close supposes.
– S Meaden
yesterday
What's wrong with the word used in your title: the leading group (or whatever)? Some would argue that "alternative" is also wrong because it implies a choice between only two groups.
– TrevorD
yesterday
@TrevorD: accepting answer below as poster has found the term 'relative majority'.
– S Meaden
yesterday
|
show 1 more comment
1
Voted to close for lack of research because the answer provided clearly shows that the Q. could be answered by consulting a standard dictionary.
– TrevorD
yesterday
9
Americans in particular use the term plurality to mean the part of a group of people voting that is the largest part, but not larger than the total number of other people voting. They didn't actually get the "majority" of the votes (which always means more than 50%), but they were still the winners.
– FumbleFingers
yesterday
@TrevorD: can you then suggest what word is appropriate for a three way split? Most dictionary definitions seem to imply a two way split. So actually this question is more nuanced than your vote to close supposes.
– S Meaden
yesterday
What's wrong with the word used in your title: the leading group (or whatever)? Some would argue that "alternative" is also wrong because it implies a choice between only two groups.
– TrevorD
yesterday
@TrevorD: accepting answer below as poster has found the term 'relative majority'.
– S Meaden
yesterday
1
1
Voted to close for lack of research because the answer provided clearly shows that the Q. could be answered by consulting a standard dictionary.
– TrevorD
yesterday
Voted to close for lack of research because the answer provided clearly shows that the Q. could be answered by consulting a standard dictionary.
– TrevorD
yesterday
9
9
Americans in particular use the term plurality to mean the part of a group of people voting that is the largest part, but not larger than the total number of other people voting. They didn't actually get the "majority" of the votes (which always means more than 50%), but they were still the winners.
– FumbleFingers
yesterday
Americans in particular use the term plurality to mean the part of a group of people voting that is the largest part, but not larger than the total number of other people voting. They didn't actually get the "majority" of the votes (which always means more than 50%), but they were still the winners.
– FumbleFingers
yesterday
@TrevorD: can you then suggest what word is appropriate for a three way split? Most dictionary definitions seem to imply a two way split. So actually this question is more nuanced than your vote to close supposes.
– S Meaden
yesterday
@TrevorD: can you then suggest what word is appropriate for a three way split? Most dictionary definitions seem to imply a two way split. So actually this question is more nuanced than your vote to close supposes.
– S Meaden
yesterday
What's wrong with the word used in your title: the leading group (or whatever)? Some would argue that "alternative" is also wrong because it implies a choice between only two groups.
– TrevorD
yesterday
What's wrong with the word used in your title: the leading group (or whatever)? Some would argue that "alternative" is also wrong because it implies a choice between only two groups.
– TrevorD
yesterday
@TrevorD: accepting answer below as poster has found the term 'relative majority'.
– S Meaden
yesterday
@TrevorD: accepting answer below as poster has found the term 'relative majority'.
– S Meaden
yesterday
|
show 1 more comment
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary :
MAJORITY
a number or percentage equaling
more than half of a total
// a majority of voters
// a two-thirds majority
Though in the special political context there are two terms:
relative majority and absolute majority.
According to Collin's Dictionary :
Relative majority
the excess of votes or seats won by the winner of an election over the runner-up when no candidate or party has more than 50 per cent.
Absolute majority
a number of votes totalling over 50 per cent, such as the total number of votes or seats obtained by a party that beats the combined opposition.
answered yesterday
user307254user307254
4,7672517
Relative majority, superb work! collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/relative-majority
– S Meaden
yesterday
add a comment |
The word
plurality means, in the context of voting,
3c a number of votes cast for a candidate in a contest of more than two candidates that is greater than the number cast for any other candidate but not more than half the total votes cast
This answers your question directly - 'plurality' is used purposefully in distinction to 'majority' which is a half or more. So, no, you cannot use majority for any amount less than a half.
answered 2 hours ago
MitchMitch
52.5k15105220
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
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According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary :
MAJORITY
a number or percentage equaling
more than half of a total
// a majority of voters
// a two-thirds majority
Though in the special political context there are two terms:
relative majority and absolute majority.
According to Collin's Dictionary :
Relative majority
the excess of votes or seats won by the winner of an election over the runner-up when no candidate or party has more than 50 per cent.
Absolute majority
a number of votes totalling over 50 per cent, such as the total number of votes or seats obtained by a party that beats the combined opposition.
answered yesterday
user307254user307254
4,7672517
Relative majority, superb work! collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/relative-majority
– S Meaden
yesterday
add a comment |
According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary :
MAJORITY
a number or percentage equaling
more than half of a total
// a majority of voters
// a two-thirds majority
Though in the special political context there are two terms:
relative majority and absolute majority.
According to Collin's Dictionary :
Relative majority
the excess of votes or seats won by the winner of an election over the runner-up when no candidate or party has more than 50 per cent.
Absolute majority
a number of votes totalling over 50 per cent, such as the total number of votes or seats obtained by a party that beats the combined opposition.
answered yesterday
user307254user307254
4,7672517
Relative majority, superb work! collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/relative-majority
– S Meaden
yesterday
add a comment |
According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary :
MAJORITY
a number or percentage equaling
more than half of a total
// a majority of voters
// a two-thirds majority
Though in the special political context there are two terms:
relative majority and absolute majority.
According to Collin's Dictionary :
Relative majority
the excess of votes or seats won by the winner of an election over the runner-up when no candidate or party has more than 50 per cent.
Absolute majority
a number of votes totalling over 50 per cent, such as the total number of votes or seats obtained by a party that beats the combined opposition.
answered yesterday
user307254user307254
4,7672517
According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary :
MAJORITY
a number or percentage equaling
more than half of a total
// a majority of voters
// a two-thirds majority
Though in the special political context there are two terms:
relative majority and absolute majority.
According to Collin's Dictionary :
Relative majority
the excess of votes or seats won by the winner of an election over the runner-up when no candidate or party has more than 50 per cent.
Absolute majority
a number of votes totalling over 50 per cent, such as the total number of votes or seats obtained by a party that beats the combined opposition.
answered yesterday
user307254user307254
4,7672517
edited 3 hours ago
answered yesterday
user307254user307254
4,7672517
answered yesterday
user307254user307254
4,7672517
answered yesterday
user307254user307254
4,7672517
4,7672517
Relative majority, superb work! collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/relative-majority
– S Meaden
yesterday
add a comment |
Relative majority, superb work! collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/relative-majority
– S Meaden
yesterday
Relative majority, superb work! collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/relative-majority
– S Meaden
yesterday
Relative majority, superb work! collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/relative-majority
– S Meaden
yesterday
add a comment |
The word
plurality means, in the context of voting,
3c a number of votes cast for a candidate in a contest of more than two candidates that is greater than the number cast for any other candidate but not more than half the total votes cast
This answers your question directly - 'plurality' is used purposefully in distinction to 'majority' which is a half or more. So, no, you cannot use majority for any amount less than a half.
answered 2 hours ago
MitchMitch
52.5k15105220
add a comment |
The word
plurality means, in the context of voting,
3c a number of votes cast for a candidate in a contest of more than two candidates that is greater than the number cast for any other candidate but not more than half the total votes cast
This answers your question directly - 'plurality' is used purposefully in distinction to 'majority' which is a half or more. So, no, you cannot use majority for any amount less than a half.
answered 2 hours ago
MitchMitch
52.5k15105220
add a comment |
The word
plurality means, in the context of voting,
3c a number of votes cast for a candidate in a contest of more than two candidates that is greater than the number cast for any other candidate but not more than half the total votes cast
This answers your question directly - 'plurality' is used purposefully in distinction to 'majority' which is a half or more. So, no, you cannot use majority for any amount less than a half.
answered 2 hours ago
MitchMitch
52.5k15105220
The word
plurality means, in the context of voting,
3c a number of votes cast for a candidate in a contest of more than two candidates that is greater than the number cast for any other candidate but not more than half the total votes cast
This answers your question directly - 'plurality' is used purposefully in distinction to 'majority' which is a half or more. So, no, you cannot use majority for any amount less than a half.
answered 2 hours ago
MitchMitch
52.5k15105220
answered 2 hours ago
MitchMitch
52.5k15105220
answered 2 hours ago
MitchMitch
52.5k15105220
answered 2 hours ago
MitchMitch
52.5k15105220
52.5k15105220
add a comment |
add a comment |
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Voted to close for lack of research because the answer provided clearly shows that the Q. could be answered by consulting a standard dictionary.
– TrevorD
yesterday
9
Americans in particular use the term plurality to mean the part of a group of people voting that is the largest part, but not larger than the total number of other people voting. They didn't actually get the "majority" of the votes (which always means more than 50%), but they were still the winners.
– FumbleFingers
yesterday
@TrevorD: can you then suggest what word is appropriate for a three way split? Most dictionary definitions seem to imply a two way split. So actually this question is more nuanced than your vote to close supposes.
– S Meaden
yesterday
What's wrong with the word used in your title: the leading group (or whatever)? Some would argue that "alternative" is also wrong because it implies a choice between only two groups.
– TrevorD
yesterday
@TrevorD: accepting answer below as poster has found the term 'relative majority'.
– S Meaden
yesterday