ballotage
|bal-lo-tage|
/ˈbælətɑːʒ/
second ballot / runoff
Etymology
'ballotage' originates from French, specifically the word 'ballotage', where 'ballot' referred to a 'little ball used in voting'.
'ballotage' entered English from French in the 19th century; French 'ballotage' derives from 'ballot' (voting ball), which ultimately traces back to Italian 'ballotta' (a small ball) and related Romance roots.
Initially it referred to the use or counting of small voting balls ('ballot'); over time in French and English it came to denote specifically a second ballot or runoff (a follow-up voting procedure).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a second ballot or runoff held to decide an election when no candidate has obtained the required majority in the first ballot.
The mayoral race went to ballotage after no candidate secured over 50% in the first round.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/07 06:52