electable
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of electable
Explanation
If a political candidate has the qualities that she needs to be voted into office, she's described as electable. Every four years, the Republican and Democratic parties nominate an electable presidential candidate, someone they believe has a chance of actually being elected. If you're running for student body president at school, being involved in clubs and activities and giving inspiring speeches will make you an electable contender. In the 18th century, electable was defined as "qualified to be a candidate," but by the 1960s it meant "capable of getting enough votes to win an election."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But voters showed no interest in the far more electable David Costello, a well-spoken environmental policy consultant and, by all appearances, a normal guy.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
Despite lingering tensions, the three men continued to work together and were the key architects of New Labour, the rebranding aimed at making the party electable.
From BBC • Sep. 11, 2025
It doesn't matter if his brand is electable as long as it is bankable.
From Salon • Jun. 2, 2023
Having said all that, I don’t know that he’d be electable to anything.
From Slate • Apr. 4, 2023
For years, party leaders tried to steer conservatives to more electable candidates, leading to John McCain and Mitt Romney becoming the GOP nominees.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 18, 2022
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
