swing state

noun

plural swing states
US politics : a U.S. state in which Republican and Democratic candidates have similar levels of support and which is considered to play a key role in the outcome of presidential elections
The politics of immigration in Florida, a key swing state, are not as clear as they are in California.Tom Masland et al.
If he is so polarizing, how was he elected five times in a swing state?Nancy Gibbs et al.

Examples of swing state in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The big swing back to the Democrats and against Republicans in the Supreme Court race was a warning sign for the GOP that also has practical implications, allowing liberals to maintain control of the court in a key swing state. Zac Anderson, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025 The outcome also showed the limits of Elon Musk's influence in the key swing state. Ivana Saric, Axios, 2 Apr. 2025 The election is viewed as a gauge of how voters in the critical swing state are feeling about President Donald Trump about two months into his new administration, as well as Elon Musk, who has endorsed and donated to Schimel. Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025 The world's richest man has used cash giveaways in the past, including a controversial $1 million sweepstakes offered to voters in swing states during last year's election cycle as part of an effort to boost President Donald Trump's chances of winning in those states. Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 30 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for swing state

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of swing state was in 1952

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Cite this Entry

“Swing state.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swing%20state. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

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