suffrage

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suffrage

/ˈsʌfɹɪd͡ʒ/ US, UK

Where it comes from

From Middle English suffrage (“prayers or pleas on behalf of another”), from Middle French suffrage (from Old French suffrage) and its etymon Classical Latin suffrāgium (“support, vote, right of voting”). Not related to suffer.

The sense of "vote" or "right to vote" was directly derived from Classical Latin.

noun suffrages

uncountable, usually The right or chance to vote, express an opinion, or participate in a decision, especially in a democratic election. universal suffrage, women's suffrage, negro suffrage
US, uncountable, usually The right of women to vote. What role did the House of Commons play in the political life of the nation in the aftermath of suffrage? There is surprisingly little historiography to help answer the question.
countable, usually A vote in deciding a particular question. But the President himself says that " upon him has been devolved, by the constitution, and the suffrages of the American people, the duty of superintending the operation of the executive departments of the Government,
countable, usually A prayer, for example a prayer offered for the faithful dead. 1564, Pope Pius IV (unknown translator), Creed of Pope Pius IV I firmly believe that there is a purgatory, and that the souls therein detained are helped by the suffrages of the faithful.
countable, usually A short petition, as those after the creed in matins and evensong. Lastly, in this suffrage, we intercede for prisoners and captives; we "remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them."
uncountable, usually Aid, intercession. Retoricyons and oratours, in freſhe humanyte Support parrot, I pray you wᵗ your ſuffrage ornate Of confuſe tantum, auoydynge the chekmate
uncountable, usually Testimony; attestation; witness; approval. Lactantius and St. Austin are not afraid to confirm by their suffrage the observation made by the heathen writers, that[…]

Similar: franchise, vote

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: vote, electoral, election, ballot, balloting, polling, franchise, poll, voting, choice, favour, fall, val, enfranchisement, voting rights, elective franchise

noun

Similar: franchise, vote

Translations

Every language

noun the right to vote

Español	sufragio
한국어	선거권 seon'geogwon
日本語	選挙権 senkyoken
中文	選舉權 /选举权 xuǎnjǔquán, 投票權 /投票权 tóupiàoquán
Português	sufrágio
Français	suffrage
Deutsch	Stimmrecht, Wahlrecht
Italiano	suffragio
Ελληνικά	δικαίωμα ψήφου dikaíoma psífou
Română	sufragiu
Русский	избира́тельное пра́во izbirátelʹnoje právo, пра́во го́лоса právo gólosa

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MLA

"suffrage." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/suffrage. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

suffrage. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/suffrage

Chicago

"suffrage." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/suffrage.

BibTeX

@misc{suffrage_2026,
  title = {suffrage},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/suffrage},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}