WordValesuffrage
the right to vote
In more detail
the right to vote in political elections
Examples
- Women fought hard to win suffrage in the early twentieth century.
How to use suffrage
Suffrage refers specifically to the legal right or privilege of voting in political elections. It is commonly used in historical contexts when discussing democratic expansion, such as the extension of voting rights to women or formerly enslaved populations. The term is more formal and institutional than casual.
Common phrases
- universal suffrage
- women's suffrage
- right to suffrage
- grant suffrage
- suffrage movement
Synonyms
voting right · right to vote · enfranchisement · ballot · electoral right
Opposites
disenfranchisement · disfranchisement
Word family
suffragette · suffragist · suffrage (noun)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse suffrage with suffering; they are completely unrelated words with different origins and meanings.
Save this word in WordVale and it comes back for review right before you'd forget it — with pronunciation, real examples, and optional translations. One purchase, no subscription.
Get WordValeFREE 7-DAY TRIAL · iPHONE & iPAD