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electoral

Etymology and origin of the English word electoral

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1675

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ɪˈlɛk.tə.ɹəl/, /ɪˈlɛk.tɹəl/ (UK); /ɪˈlɛk.tɚ.əl/, /əˈlɛk.tɚ.əl/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from elector and -al.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Holding rank as, or belonging to, a German Elector: 1675 in the OED and MWU, the 1670s in Etymonline.[3][4][2]

Semantic evolution

As a noun, an elector, it is obsolete from 1692.[3] The general sense, relating to or composed of electors, is from 1790.[2][3] The American electoral college is so called from 1808, the term having been used earlier of Germany.[2]

Timeline

  • 1675 – of a German Elector.[3]
  • 1692 – an elector (noun, obsolete).[3]
  • 1790 – of electors in general.[3]
  • 1808 – the US electoral college.[2]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Of, relating to or made up of electors.
  2. Of or relating to an election.

Word family

  • electorally
  • electoral college
  • electoral vote

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
Cite this entry

“Electoral.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/electoral. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·