hung parliamentnoun [ C ]
/ˌhʌŋ ˈpɑː.lɪ.mənt//ˌhʌŋ ˈpɑːr.lə.mənt/UK specializeda situation in which no single political party has enough seats (= positions that people are elected to in a parliament) to have total control:
In a hung parliament, no single party has an absolute majority.
In the event of a hung parliament there is the possibility of constitutional deadlock.
More examples
- A hung parliament after the next general election is still likely.
- In a hung parliament, the defection of one or two members can be crucial.
- Voting for the 120-seat Assembly produced a hung parliament.
- Fears about the unworkability of hung parliaments put many people off supporting proportional representation.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Ruling & governing
- absolute
- administration
- affairs of state
- ascend
- ascend the throne idiom
- Comintern
- corridor
- government-chartered
- government-owned
- government-sponsored
- governmental
- incumbency
- officially
- oppressive
- reign
- repress
- repression
- repressive
- sovereignty
- statecraft
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Politics - general words
UK politics: government administration & organisation