plurality

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'plurality' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a large number or majority of things or people that are grouped together. For example: "The plurality of students in the school voted in favor of the new policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But Bruce said Scotland needed diversity and plurality: "Scotland is a divided and bruised country with just one Liberal Democrat, one Conservative and Labour MP, and the SNP are quite clearly trying to extinguish all opposition in Scotland.

The Guardian

The reason parallels the situation in the UK, where David Cameron returned with a majority of seats conjured from a bare plurality of votes.

The Guardian

Separately, Richards said plurality of provision in the media was a "critical idea in a modern democracy" and it was a "big positive" from the Leveson inquiry that it had been put back on the agenda.

The Guardian

A plurality of respondents would like to see the Golden State Warriors win this year's NBA title (19%), ahead of Chicago (17%), Cleveland (15%) and the LA Clippers (12%).

The Guardian - Sport

Predictably grim proceedings began with conjoined twins Bette and Dot (series old guard Sarah Paulson, superb as both), whose unique cranial plurality soon came to the attention of Jessica Lange's freak-show proprietor Elsa Mars.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

While a majority of those surveyed tipped the Cleveland Cavaliers superstar to win a hypothetical game against His Airness – 54% to 34% – a plurality of respondents who came of age during Jordan's prime (aged 30 to 45) said they'd favor the quinquagenarian Chicago Bulls legend (48% to 41%) even though he retired in 2003.

The Guardian - Sport

What I don't understand is why Jeremy Hunt, the Culture Secretary, has not simply published the [Ofcom] report and announced that there will be a further Competition Commission enquiry into whether the takeover restricts plurality in the media (or choice for viewers and readers).

The Guardian

Neal Lawson, chair of Compass, says the political party approach is dead, that it's all about plurality: "The 20th-century way of being a vanguard, leading the people, doing it for them, to them, is over.

The Guardian

"What a breath of fresh air it was to hear the ABC giving us the plurality and open-mindedness demanded by legislation," the News Corp columnist wrote in his new weekly column "Media Watch Watch" in the paper's media section.

The Guardian

It failed to gain a plurality in any of 41 prefectural and municipal assemblies that were up for grabs.

The Economist

Polls suggest that the FN could win a plurality of the votes in France.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing election results, clarify if you are referring to a "plurality" or a majority. A "plurality" simply means more votes than any other candidate, while a majority means more than 50% of the total votes cast.

Common error

Avoid using "plurality" when you actually mean a majority. Ensure that the winning candidate or option received less than half of all votes cast to use "plurality" correctly.

Linguistic Context

The noun "plurality" functions primarily to denote a quantity greater than any other within a set, without necessarily constituting a majority. Ludwig AI confirms this understanding by showcasing examples where "plurality" is used to describe election results or survey outcomes, as well as media ownership.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "plurality" is a noun that denotes the largest group within a set, but not necessarily a majority. As Ludwig AI points out, it’s often used in political contexts to describe election results when no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote. While grammatically straightforward and classified as correct, it is often confused with the term majority. Usage spans across news, business, and academic writing, signaling a register from neutral to formal. To use "plurality" effectively, remember to distinguish it from "majority" and ensure clarity in your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relative majority

Refers specifically to the largest share when no option exceeds 50%.

largest segment

Emphasizes the size of a part compared to others in a group.

highest proportion

Focuses on the ratio or percentage that is the greatest.

simple majority

Though often used interchangeably, simple majority may imply slightly more than just a "plurality".

diversity

Highlights the variety and range of different elements within a group.

multiplicity

Indicates a large number or variety, often implying complexity.

multitude

Suggests a great number of things or people, often unorganized.

most votes

Specifically refers to the outcome of an election or poll.

numerical superiority

Highlights having a greater number than others.

greater number

A more general way of saying that one group is larger than others.

FAQs

How is "plurality" used in political contexts?

In political contexts, "plurality" refers to a situation where a candidate or party receives more votes than any other, but does not necessarily win a majority (more than 50%) of the votes cast. It's common in multi-candidate elections.

What's the difference between "plurality" and "majority"?

"Plurality" means receiving more votes than any other candidate, even if it's less than 50% of the total. "Majority", on the other hand, requires receiving more than 50% of the votes cast.

What are some alternatives to using the word "plurality"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "relative majority", "largest segment", or "highest proportion" to convey the same meaning.

Is it correct to say "a plurality of people is" or "a plurality of people are"?

Because "plurality" refers to a number of people, it's generally more appropriate to use the plural verb form: "A plurality of people are..."