Plurality

//plʊˈɹæləti// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The state of being plural. uncountable

    "Nominal plurality in Basque is originally exclusively marked on definite determiners and not on nouns."

  2. 2
    (in an election with more than 2 options) the number of votes for the candidate or party receiving the greatest number (but less than half of the votes) wordnet
  3. 3
    The holding of multiple benefices. countable, uncountable

    "It was the complaint and lamentation of Prelats, upon every least breath of a motion to remove pluralities, and distribute more equally Church revennu's, that then all learning would be for ever dasht and discourag'd."

  4. 4
    a large indefinite quantity wordnet
  5. 5
    A state of being numerous. countable
Show 8 more definitions
  1. 6
    the state of being plural wordnet
  2. 7
    A number or part of a whole which is greater than any other number or part, but not necessarily a majority. countable
  3. 8
    A number of votes for a single candidate or position which is greater than the number of votes gained by any other single candidate or position voted for, but which is less than a majority of valid votes cast. countable

    "To repeal the tax (Question I), a 50 per cent majority vote is required. To keep the tax in its 1976 form (Question III), only a plurality of votes is required."

  4. 9
    A margin by which a number exceeds another number, especially of votes. countable

    "Truman's total vote was 24,104,836. Dewey received 21,969,500;[…]. Truman won by a plurality of 2,135,336, but it was the first time since 1916 that a winner has failed to capture a majority of all votes cast."

  5. 10
    A group of many entities: a large number. countable

    "A plurality of ideas were put forth at the meeting, most of which were rejected out of hand."

  6. 11
    A group composed of more than one entity. countable

    "The array is organized into a plurality of vertical (column) blocks."

  7. 12
    Polygamy. countable, uncountable
  8. 13
    Synonym of multiplicity (“the condition whereby a person displays or experiences multiple distinct personalities or selves in one body”). countable, uncountable

    "In this paper I argue that hearing voices experiences and plurality are part of a broad, rich, and complex spectrum of human experience, […]"

Etymology

From plural + -ity, from Middle English pluralite, from Old French pluralité (“multitude, state of being plural”), from Latin plūrālitās.

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