ballot

noun

The process of voting, especially in secret; a round of voting.

The total of all the votes cast in an election.

(originally) 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.

(chiefly US) A list of candidates running for office; a ticket.

verb

(intransitive) To vote or decide by ballot.

(transitive) To invite to vote on a proposal.

(intransitive) To draw lots.

Roots

ballaball- · Italian · little ball

Synonyms for ballot

votingn referendumn pollingv plebisciten suffragen canvassn

Synonyms & related words for ballot

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of ballot — including voting, referendum, polling, plebiscite, suffrage, canvass. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to ballot

Explore words related to ballot — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include nonvoter, votes, voter, elections, voted, electoral, electors, polls. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for ballot

Common synonyms for ballot include voting, referendum, polling, plebiscite, suffrage, canvass — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does ballot come from?

The word ballot breaks down into one root of Italian origin: the root ball-, from Italian balla (“little ball”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.