supermajority
noun
su·per·ma·jor·i·ty
ˈsü-pər-mə-ˌjȯr-ə-tē 
-ˌjär-
plural supermajorities
: a majority (such as two-thirds or three-fifths) that is greater than a simple majority
treaty ratification requires a supermajority
Furthermore, it is about even money that soon after Congress convenes in January it will … approve a constitutional amendment to require supermajorities (three-fifths) in both houses of Congress to approve deficit spending.—
George F. Will
George F. WillThe company, for instance, has a supermajority clause in its articles of incorporation; 80% of the shareholders must approve any sale or merger.—Joshua Hyatt
Joshua HyattExamples of supermajority in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Eleven Indiana House districts – three of them in Porter County – have been targeted by the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee and the Indiana House Democratic Caucus as crucial for weakening the Republican supermajority in the Indiana General Assembly.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
The planning and zoning commission deliberated the request and denied it in a vote of 4 to 3, which needed a supermajority to pass.
—Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 May 2026
The focus of Section 2, the Supreme Court's conservative supermajority ruled, should now be intentional racial discrimination, a legal standard that's notoriously difficult to prove in court.
—Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 18 May 2026
And Democrats have held a legislative supermajority for nearly a decade.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for supermajority
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Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
The planning and zoning commission deliberated the request and denied it in a vote of 4 to 3, which needed a supermajority to pass.
—Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 May 2026
The focus of Section 2, the Supreme Court's conservative supermajority ruled, should now be intentional racial discrimination, a legal standard that's notoriously difficult to prove in court.
—Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 18 May 2026
And Democrats have held a legislative supermajority for nearly a decade.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for supermajority
Cite this Entry
“Supermajority.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supermajority. Accessed 28 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
supermajority
noun
su·per·ma·jor·i·ty
ˈsü-pər-mə-ˌjȯr-ə-tē
: a large majority
a provision requiring a supermajority vote — say, 80 % of the common shares instead of the usual bare majority rule—R. C. Clark
R. C. ClarkLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
