swing state

noun

plural swing states
US politics : a U.S. state in which Republican and Democratic candidates have similar levels of support and which is considered to play a key role in the outcome of presidential elections
The politics of immigration in Florida, a key swing state, are not as clear as they are in California.Tom Masland et al.
If he is so polarizing, how was he elected five times in a swing state?Nancy Gibbs et al.

Examples of swing state in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Progressive Change Institute and Data For Progress conducted surveys in Michigan and Pennsylvania in November that showed the economy was the deciding factor for voters in those swing states, but Harris missed opportunities to play up economic populism. Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 Feb. 2025 Dean thinks that’s what Democrats, who lost all seven swing states in November and watched red states turn redder, need to do now. Jess Bidgood, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2025 Trump won every swing state and the popular vote not just because of the open border, inflation, and chaos abroad and in the streets. Matthew Continetti, National Review, 1 Feb. 2025 Nevada, where Trump made promises of eliminating the tax on tips during his presidential campaign, was among the seven swing states that gave the Republican a sweeping victory in November. Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 26 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for swing state 

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of swing state was in 1952

Dictionary Entries Near swing state

Cite this Entry

“Swing state.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swing%20state. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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