noun
primary
An election to choose a political party's candidate.
Voters choose their party's candidate for governor in today's primary.
Etymology
The Latin adjective means first or chief. A primary election is an earlier selection that determines who will represent a party in the later contest.
More examples
- Three candidates are competing in the Democratic primary.
- She won the primary but lost the general election.
- Several states hold their presidential primaries in March.
Forms
primary · primaries