a modest majority

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a modest majority" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where a group has a slight or moderate lead over another group, often in the context of voting or decision-making. Example: "In the recent election, the candidate won with a modest majority, securing just over 50% of the votes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

A modest majority (52percentt) believes that the detainees the United States is holding at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, are being treated fairly.

The New York Times

The Janata Party's 295 seats (of a total 542) gave it only a modest majority, but opposition candidates together represented more than two-thirds of the Lok Sabha membership.

Britannica

However, even though this proposal is one of the few that has been touted by the Trump administration, 53percentt of Republicans are opposed — although in a separate question, a modest majority said they could tolerate the idea.

The Washington Post

The prime minister, who has a modest majority, will move to entrench the Tories' position by pressing ahead with radical boundary changes to overcome what is seen as a bias in favour of Labour.

The Guardian

Yet the Tories dramatically out-performed expectations, winning a modest majority and more individual votes than any party before or since.Are the "shy Tories" about to cause their biggest upset yet?

The Economist

"At this point, the American public would generally agree with Obama that wealth should ideally be more evenly distributed and a modest majority, consisting mainly of Democrats and independents, appears to support the idea of bringing about that redistribution through heavier taxes on the rich," Frank Newport, Gallup's editor-in-chief, noted.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

For even a modest working majority, they must double their number of seats.

The Economist

What looked at first like a modest Democratic majority in the House has grown into a stronger one: The party has gained 33 seats so far and appears on track to gain between 35 and 40 once all the counting is complete.

The New York Times

It was, said Emily Maitlis, the "Basildon moment", recalling that key result in 1992 which helped put John Major back into Downing Street with a modest working majority in the teeth of poll ratings which had consistently pointed the other way.

BBC

The new legislator was escorted to the bar of the Senate by Sherman; his swearing-in helped cement a modest Republican majority.

Wikipedia

Perhaps it is time for the collective will of the modest majority of players to have a whisper in the ears of the prima-donnas but don't get too close as they might fall over.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a modest majority" when you want to downplay the size of the majority, suggesting it is not overwhelming or decisive. This can be useful in situations where you want to avoid exaggerating the level of support for a particular position or outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "a modest majority" when the actual majority is substantial or overwhelming. Using it in such cases can be misleading and undermine the accuracy of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a modest majority" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject or object in a sentence. Ludwig AI shows that it describes a situation where a group or option has a slight or moderate lead, as demonstrated in sentences about political votes and public opinion.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

17%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a modest majority" is a noun phrase used to describe a situation where one option has a slight or moderate lead. Ludwig AI analysis confirms it is grammatically correct and commonly used in news, media, and scientific contexts to objectively present a situation where a lead exists, but it is not overwhelming. Alternatives such as ""a slight majority"" or ""a narrow majority"" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. When writing, be sure that the use of the phrase accurately reflects the context and it is not used to misrepresent or overstate an idea.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slight majority

Indicates an even smaller difference than "a modest majority".

a narrow majority

Emphasizes the smallness of the difference between the groups.

a marginal majority

Suggests the majority is barely over the required amount.

a small majority

Directly states the majority is not large.

a slim majority

Implies the majority is thin or fragile.

a simple majority

Refers to a majority of more than 50% of the votes cast.

a bare majority

Stresses that it is the minimum majority possible.

a limited majority

Highlights that the majority is not substantial.

a moderate majority

Suggests a mid-sized majority, stronger than "slight" but not overwhelming.

a working majority

Describes a majority large enough to effectively govern or implement policies.

FAQs

How can I use "a modest majority" in a sentence?

You can use "a modest majority" to describe situations where there is a slight lead, such as "The bill passed with "a modest majority" in the Senate."

What's a good substitute for "a modest majority"?

Alternatives include "a slight majority", "a narrow majority", or "a small majority". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "a slight majority" or "a modest majority"?

Both phrases are acceptable, but "a slight majority" suggests an even smaller difference than "a modest majority". Choose the phrase that best reflects the actual proportion.

What does "a working majority" mean in contrast to "a modest majority"?

"A working majority" implies the majority is sufficient to govern effectively, whereas "a modest majority" simply refers to the size of the majority without implying its effectiveness.