an overwhelming majority

USAGE SUMMARY

"an overwhelming majority" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to a large proportion of a group. Example sentence: "An overwhelming majority of voters support the new policy initiative."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Neither is an overwhelming majority.

The New York Times

By an overwhelming majority.

The Guardian

It was passed by an overwhelming majority.

The Guardian

Either way, an overwhelming majority have been required to leave.

The New York Times

Among conservative Republicans, an overwhelming majority opposes same-sex marriage.

The New York Times

It's also what an overwhelming majority of Germans want.

The New York Times

For an overwhelming majority of white men, it still does.

The New York Times

So far, an overwhelming majority has stubbornly resisted temptation.

The New York Times - Tech

And an overwhelming majority – 86% – reside in developing countries.

The Guardian

There's an overwhelming majority in Wales who are anti-Tory.

The Guardian

(The party has an overwhelming majority in the House).

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an overwhelming majority", ensure that the context clearly supports the claim. Provide specific numbers or percentages when possible to strengthen your statement and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "an overwhelming majority" when the proportion is only slightly over 50%. This phrase implies a significantly larger proportion, typically closer to 75% or higher.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an overwhelming majority" functions as a determiner phrase that modifies a noun, indicating a large and significant proportion. It specifies the extent to which something is prevalent or dominant within a group. Ludwig shows many examples of how this phrase is used to describe public opinion or statistical data.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an overwhelming majority" is a versatile phrase used to describe a significantly large proportion within a group. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely applicable, with high frequency across various contexts, especially in News & Media and Science. To ensure clarity and accuracy, always quantify the proportion with specific data when possible and avoid using it for proportions only slightly above 50%. Using stronger alternatives such as "an overwhelming consensus" or "a vast majority" may be more impactful, depending on the specific context and needed emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an overwhelming consensus

Replaces 'majority' with 'consensus', focusing on agreement rather than numerical dominance; indicates alignment of opinions rather than sheer numbers.

an enormous majority

Substitutes 'overwhelming' with 'enormous', emphasizing the size of the majority; suitable when highlighting the magnitude of the group.

an overwhelming predominance

Uses 'predominance' instead of 'majority', highlighting the superior influence or power held by the group, rather than just its size.

a vast majority

Replaces 'overwhelming' with 'vast', emphasizing the extensive and expansive nature of the majority.

a significant majority

Replaces 'overwhelming' with 'significant', highlighting that the majority is important or noteworthy.

a substantial majority

Similar to 'significant majority', this emphasizes that the majority is considerable and weighty.

the great majority

Uses 'great' instead of 'overwhelming', which is a less emphatic but still strong indicator of a large proportion.

most people

Simplifies the phrase to indicate that the majority is large enough to represent what most people think or do, not necessarily "an overwhelming majority".

the bulk of

Indicates that the larger part of something or someone is being considered, not necessarily suggesting a majority is "an overwhelming majority".

almost all

Emphasizes near-complete inclusion; stronger than 'an overwhelming majority' because it suggests a minimal number of exceptions.

FAQs

How to use "an overwhelming majority" in a sentence?

Use "an overwhelming majority" to indicate that a very large number or proportion of people or things within a group share a particular characteristic or opinion. For example, "An overwhelming majority of survey respondents preferred the new design."

What can I say instead of "an overwhelming majority"?

You can use alternatives like "an overwhelming consensus", "an enormous majority", or "a vast majority" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "an overwhelming majority" when the percentage is just above 50%?

While technically correct, using "an overwhelming majority" for proportions only slightly above 50% can be misleading. The phrase implies a much larger segment. Consider using "a simple majority" or "a majority" instead for proportions closer to 50%.

What distinguishes "an overwhelming majority" from "a simple majority"?

"A simple majority" indicates more than half of a group, whereas "an overwhelming majority" suggests a much larger proportion, typically well above 75%. The choice depends on the level of emphasis needed.