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

The company, for instance, has a supermajority clause in its articles of incorporation; 80% of the shareholders must approve any sale or merger.

—Joshua Hyatt

Examples of supermajority in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Republicans control a supermajority in both chambers. —Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2025

Supporters of the Labor Peace Act say the second election acts as another check to ensure that a supermajority of workers support paying union dues and fees. —Judith Kohler, The Denver Post, 26 Jan. 2025

Among the supermajority of Republicans, zero women stood. —Jennifer Berry Hawes, ProPublica, 22 Jan. 2025

Democrats, while holding a supermajority in the House and Senate, overrode that veto. —Mikenzie Frost, Baltimore Sun, 14 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Legal 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