[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/plurality/)

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# plurality

noun (a plurality, pluralities)

«plurality» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (voting) More votes than any other single person or party, but not more than half of all votes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plurality/#m1)
2. A large number or variety of things: "a plurality of opinions". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plurality/#m2)
3. (grammar) The state of being plural, more than one. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plurality/#m3)

### In the lessons

In citizenship lessons on elections, a plurality wins in "first past the post" systems (UK, US, Canada): the candidate with the most votes wins even without a majority. In discussions, "plurality" means many different views living side by side.

### Examples

- She won with a plurality, but not a majority. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plurality/#x1)
- A plurality of the class voted for pizza. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plurality/#x2)
- The town has a plurality of languages and cultures. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plurality/#x3)
- In first past the post, a plurality is enough to win. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plurality/#x4)
- The plurality of nouns is shown by adding -s. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plurality/#x5)
- Democracy needs a plurality of voices. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plurality/#x6)

### Note

Mostly uncountable or "a plurality". Maths: with 3 candidates getting 40%, 35% and 25%, the first has a plurality (most votes) but not a majority (more than 50%). In UK English "relative majority" means the same.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «plurality» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/plurality/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«plurality» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/plurality.html) on Mova free.