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swing state

a state where either party could plausibly win

In From the Front Page

In more detail

a state in a U.S. election where the outcome is uncertain and could go to either major political party, making it crucial to the overall election result

Examples

• Ohio and Pennsylvania are key swing states that often determine presidential elections.

How to use swing state

A swing state is a U.S. political term referring to states where neither major party has a guaranteed advantage and the election outcome is genuinely competitive. It is used primarily in electoral discourse and journalism to identify states where candidates focus significant campaign resources. The term implies strategic importance to winning the presidency or other statewide offices.

Common phrases

• key swing state
• crucial swing states
• swing state voters
• campaign in swing states
• swing state strategy

Synonyms

battleground state · competitive state · toss-up state · purple state

Opposites

safe state · solid state

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse swing state with purple state, though purple state is a broader term describing any state with mixed political leanings, whereas swing state specifically emphasizes electoral uncertainty in a given election.

Nearby in From the Front Page

unrest, stalemate, overhaul, pundit, backlash, watchdog

Keep going

How to remember the words you read · Spaced repetition, explained