Plurality: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when referring to the largest share of something, especially votes, but not necessarily a majority. Often used in formal or statistical contexts.

• The candidate won with a plurality of the vote, but not an outright majority.
• In the survey, a plurality of respondents preferred the new policy.

Used to describe a large number of different types or a variety of things, highlighting diversity. Often found in more formal or academic texts.

• The project considers a multiplicity of factors in its analysis.
• There is a multiplicity of approaches to solving the issue.

Refers to a large quantity of something, often implying more than enough and conveying a positive connotation. It can be used in formal or informal contexts.

• The garden was filled with an abundance of flowers.
• They lived in a region with an abundance of natural resources.

Refers to a large number of people or things, implying a crowd or mass. It often emphasizes the sheer amount of something, and can be used in both positive and negative contexts.

• A multitude of fans gathered outside the stadium.
• He faced a multitude of challenges during the project.

This term is often used in elections to describe the largest subset of votes received by a candidate, which is not necessarily a majority. It can also refer to a variety of choices or a large number of elements.

• In the election, the candidate won with a plurality, receiving more votes than any other candidate but not more than half.
• The plurality of opinions on the matter made it hard to reach a consensus.

This term is commonly used when referring to more than half of a group or amount, especially in contexts like elections, decisions, and surveys.

• For the proposal to pass, it needs to get a majority vote.
• The majority of the team agreed on the new strategy.

This term specifically refers to a situation in elections where a candidate wins by securing more votes than any other candidate, though not necessarily more than half of the total votes.

• In a plurality vote system, the candidate with the highest number of votes wins, even if it's less than half of the total votes.
• The governor won with a plurality vote, securing 45% of the total.

This phrase is typically used in quantitative contexts to compare amounts or quantities of things, such as votes, members, or items, and indicates the highest value among them.

• The largest number of students in a single class this year is 35.
• She received the largest number of votes in the council election.