ballot
A small ball placed in a container to cast a vote; now, by extension, a piece of paper or card used for this purpose, or some other means used to signify a vote.
Noun 4 meanings
A small ball placed in a container to cast a vote; now, by extension, a piece of paper or card used for this purpose, or some other means used to signify a vote.
The process of voting, especially in secret; a round of voting.
“July 1836, A. B. (initials of author), London and Westminster Review Article XI, Bribery and Intimidation at Elections the insufficiency of the ballot”
The total of all the votes cast in an election.
A list of candidates running for office; a ticket.
Verb 3 meanings
To vote or decide by ballot.
“to ballot for a candidate”
To draw lots.
To invite to vote on a proposal.
“The trade union balloted its members for strike action.”
Etymology
Borrowed from Italian balota (obsolete), ballotta (“small ball, especially one used to register a vote”), from balla (“bale, bundle”) + -otta (suffix forming diminutive nouns); or from Middle French balote (obsolete), ballotte (“small ball used to register a vote”) (also compare Middle French balotiage, French ballottage (“second ballot, runoff”)); both ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *ballu (“ball”), from Proto-Germanic *balluz (“ball”).
BALLOT at a glance
BALLOT has 6 letters and scores 8 points in Scrabble (B 3 + A 1 + L 1 + L 1 + O 1 + T 1) and 11 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #6,339 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with ballot
All rhymesOne letter away
- BALLET8
- BALLON8
- BALLOW11
- BALLAT8
- HALLOT9
- TALLOT6
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