Dictionary

snap election en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˌsnæp iˈlɛkʃ(ə)n/ (General-American)
• /ˌsnæp ɪˈlɛkʃ(ə)n/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (General-American) audio

Etymology

From snap (“done, performed, etc., quickly and unexpectedly”) + election.

Meanings

1. An election that is called earlier than the regularly scheduled election time.
   • The chief whip was in no doubt that had [Marilyn] Waring agreed to tear up the letter, stay in the caucus, and attend select committees, [Robert] Muldoon would have accepted that and not contemplated a snap election. 2000, Barry Gustafson, “The 1984 Election”, in His Way: A Biography of Robert Muldoon, Auckland: Auckland University Press, →ISBN, page 375:
   • The echoes of the election of President by snap election ticket, which had been brewing sub rosa for almost a year, forced these views upon my mind. 1887 September, Clara Brinkerhoff, “Art or Trade?: The Music Teachers’ National Association Dividing into an Eastern and a Western Wing”, in Edgar S. Werner, editor, The Voice: Devoted to the Human Voice in All Its Phases, volume IX, number 9, New York, N.Y.: Edgar S. Werner, →OCLC, page 139, column 1:
   • By dissolving the Lower House and calling a snap election, Thaksin [Shinawatra] intended to release the pressure from street protesters led by the PAD who had been demanding his immediate resignation. 2006, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, “Thaksin’s Political Zenith and Nadir”, in Daljit Singh, Lorraine C[arlos] Salazar, editors, Southeast Asian Affairs 2006, Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, →ISBN, page 299:
   • The Parliament was to be elected for fixed four-year terms, so that the Prime Minister would no longer be able to call snap elections to suit his own party's fortunes, nor cajole Parliament with the threat of arbitrary dissolution. 2011, W. Elliot Bulmer, “Introduction”, in A Model Constitution for Scotland: Making Democracy Work in an Independent State, Edinburgh: Luath Press, →ISBN, page 13:
   • Last year, in an excess of arrogance, the dictatorship called for its doom in a snap election. The people obliged. With over a million signatures, they drafted me to challenge the dictatorship. And I obliged. 1986 September 22, Corazon Aquino, “Speech during the Joint Session of the US Congress 1986”, in Anna Russell, So Here I Am: Speeches by Great Women to Empower and Inspire, London: White Lion Publishing, The Quarto Group, published 2019, →ISBN, page 103, column 1:
   • Let hon. members stop putting the red strips of bacon under the cellophane in the hope that because they are getting in first or are yelling the loudest they are going to take all the political advantage they can from it, hoping to win a snap election by offering the old people nothing and covering it up with aid to a few in the 55 to 65 age group. 1965 February 23, F. J. Bigg, “Pensions: Provisions for Establishment of Contributory Program”, in Canada: House of Commons Debates: Official Report: Second Session—Twenty Sixth Parliament: 13 Elizabeth II (House of Commons of Canada), volume XI, Ottawa, Canada: Roger Duhamel, […], →OCLC, page 11654, column 2:
   • A legislature should no more encourage and sustain snap elections, than a court should encourage and sustain snap judgment. 1852, “No. 18. Notes and Comments Submitted by S. R. Mallory, of Florida, upon the Printed Statements and Arguments Addressed to the Select Committee of the United States Senate, by and in behalf of D. L. Yulee, to Sustain His Claim to the Seat Held by S. R. Mallory. July, 1852.”, in The Miscellaneous Documents of the Senate of the United States, during the First Session of the Thirty-second Congress, Washington, D.C.: A. Boyd Hamilton, […], →OCLC, page 254:
   • Mr. [Sidney] HOLLAND.—I think it is important for the House to know, because there are fairly widespread rumours going round of a general election. I do not know where the rumours came from. The Right Hon. Mr. [Peter] FRASER said that he could not authenticate the rumours. There would not be anything in the nature of a snap election. 1942 December 4, Peter Fraser, Prime Minister, “Business of the House”, in New Zealand. Parliamentary Debates. Fourth Session, Twenty-sixth Parliament. Legislative Council and House of Representatives (House of Representatives), volume 261, Wellington, New Zealand: E. V. Paul, government printer, →OCLC, page 948, column 2:
   • Spain’s PM calls snap election after conservative and far-right wins in local polls [title] 2023 May 29, Sam Jones, “Spain’s PM calls snap election after conservative and far-right wins in local polls”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

Forms

Translations (23)

fr élections anticipées (election called before the regularly scheduled time) · it elezioni lampo (election called before the regularly scheduled time) · it elezione lampo (election called before the regularly scheduled time) · pl przedterminowe wybory (election called before the regularly scheduled time) · pt eleições antecipadas (election called before the regularly scheduled time) · es elecciones anticipadas (election called before the regularly scheduled time) · da valg i utide (election called before the regularly scheduled time) · ru досрочные выборы (election called before the regularly scheduled time) · el πρόωρες εκλογές (election called before the regularly scheduled time) · de vorgezogene Wahl (election called before the regularly scheduled time) · ka ვადამდელი არჩევნები (election called before the regularly scheduled time) · de vorgezogene Neuwahl (election called before the regularly scheduled time) · hu előrehozott választás (election called before the regularly scheduled time) · fi ennenaikaiset vaalit (election called before the regularly scheduled time) · he בחירות בזק (election called before the regularly scheduled time) · ka რიგგარეშე არჩევნები (election called before the regularly scheduled time) · da lynvalg (election called before the regularly scheduled time) · cmn 提前選舉 /提前选举 (election called before the regularly scheduled time) · ro alegeri anticipate (election called before the regularly scheduled time) · nb nyvalg (election called before the regularly scheduled time) · sv nyval (election called before the regularly scheduled time) · nl vervroegde verkiezingen (election called before the regularly scheduled time) · ru внеочередные выборы (election called before the regularly scheduled time)