Suffrage is the right of people to vote for a government or national leader.
[formal]
He was an advocate of universal suffrage as a basis for social equality.
...the women's suffrage movement.
Synonyms: right to vote, vote, franchise, voice More Synonyms of suffrage
suffrage in British English
(ˈsʌfrɪdʒ)
noun
1.
the right to vote, esp in public elections; franchise
2.
the exercise of such a right; casting a vote
3.
a supporting vote
4.
a prayer, esp a short intercessory prayer
Word origin
C14: from Latin suffrāgium
suffrage in American English
(ˈsʌfrɪdʒ)
noun
1.
a prayer or act of intercession or supplication
2.
a vote or voting; esp., a vote in favor of some candidate or issue
3. US
the right to vote, esp. in political elections; franchise
Word origin
ME < MFr < ML(Ec) < L suffragium, decision, vote, suffrage < sub- (see sub-) + fragor, loud applause, orig., din, a crashing < IE base *bhreĝ-, to crash, break
Examples of 'suffrage' in a sentence
suffrage
It would be an election by universal suffrage.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Then freedom for the citizen represented through the political right of universal suffrage.
Roper, Jon Democracy and its Critics - Anglo-American democratic thought in the nineteenth century (1989)
Universal suffrage and mass education changed rhetoric.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Most of the industrialized capitalist countries had nearly complete male suffrage by the early twentieth century.
Hunt, E. K. Property and Prophets: The Evolution of Economic Institutions and Ideologies (1995)
He campaigned for universal male suffrage but was deaf to any suggestion that women should have the right to vote.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The difference is that all of us today can play a direct role in choosing our leader thanks to universal suffrage.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This disagreement divided the women's suffrage movement for a generation to come.
Divine, Robert A. (editor) & Breen, T. H & Frederickson, George M & Williams, R. Hal America Past and Present (1995)
The first concerned the progress of the American suffrage movement as a whole.
Amanda Mackenzie Stuart Consuelo & Alva: Love and Power in the Gilded Age (2005)
He became enmeshed in the suffrage movement that Olive supported.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But while such atrocities led to the rushing through of expanded male suffrage, governments refused to be swayed by suffragette outrages.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Popular and annual elections, universal suffrage and freedom of information were thus utilitarian prescriptions to promote an identity of interest between government and the people.
Roper, Jon Democracy and its Critics - Anglo-American democratic thought in the nineteenth century (1989)
The women's suffrage movement was brought to fruition, as was the campaign against alcohol.
Garraty, John Arthur The American Nation: A History of the United States to 1877 (1995)
The Chinese plan would have given 5m eligible voters the chance to elect their leader by universal suffrage.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
For many of the citizens, who have been promised free elections by universal suffrage, that is not enough.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Minority rights, an independent judiciary and a free press were established in Britain long before full universal suffrage arrived.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
All related terms of 'suffrage'
female suffrage
the right of women to vote
woman suffrage
the right of women to vote in governmental elections
manhood suffrage
the right of adult male citizens to vote
universal suffrage
the right of all adults (with minor exceptions ) to vote in elections
women's suffrage
the right of women to vote
(noun)
Definition
the right to vote in public elections
the women's suffrage movement
Synonyms
right to vote
vote
Before that, women did not even have the vote.
franchise
the introduction of universal franchise
voice
Our employees have no voice in how our company is run.
ballot
The result of the ballot will not be known for two weeks.
consent
enfranchisement
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ballot
Definition
the practice of selecting a representative or course of action by voting
The result of the ballot will not be known for two weeks.
Synonyms
vote,
election,
voting,
poll,
polling,
referendum,
show of hands
in the sense of franchise
Definition
the right to vote, esp. for a member of parliament
the introduction of universal franchise
Synonyms
vote,
voting rights,
suffrage,
enfranchisement
in the sense of voice
Definition
a right to express an opinion
Our employees have no voice in how our company is run.