write-in

[ rahyt-in ]

/ ˈraɪtˌɪn /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR write-in ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a candidate or vote for a candidate not listed on the printed ballot but written onto it by the voter: Write-ins may swing the election.

adjective

of, relating to, or for such a candidate or vote or a ballot so marked: a write-in campaign.

Origin of write-in

First recorded in 1930–35

Words nearby write-in

wristy, writ, writable, write, write-down, write-in, write-in candidate, write-off, write one's own ticket, write out, write-protect

Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for write-in

But Dickinson never filed to run as a Democrat, and is now running as a write-in for the seat.
He Humiliates Women Online and In His Strip Club, Like a Good Liberal|Olivia Nuzzi|July 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
First, he ran an unsuccessful campaign as a write-in against U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor—a Democrat.
The GOP Candidate In Arizona Who Changed His Name To Cesar Chavez|Olivia Nuzzi|June 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the initial tally, Fleck had 3,398 votes, while a total of 3,700 votes were given to write-in candidates.
Did a Pennsylvania Republican Lose Because He’s Openly Gay?|Ben Jacobs|May 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Fleck also noted that it was possible that he could have the Democratic nomination as a write-in as well.
Did a Pennsylvania Republican Lose Because He’s Openly Gay?|Ben Jacobs|May 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Mike Fleck ran unopposed three times, but appears to have been beaten by a write-in candidate after coming out in 2012.
Did a Pennsylvania Republican Lose Because He’s Openly Gay?|Ben Jacobs|May 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for write-in

write in

verb (tr)

to insert in (a document, form, etc) in writing

(adverb) to write a letter to a company, institution, etc

(adverb) US

to vote for (a person not on a ballot) by writing in his name
to cast (a vote) for such a person by writing in his name

noun write-in US

the act of voting for a person by writing his name on a ballot

a candidate or vote that has been written in

(as modifier)a write-in campaign

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with write-in