Definition of SUFFRAGE

: a short intercessory prayer usually in a series

: a vote given in deciding a controverted question or electing a person for an office or trust

: the right of voting : franchise

also : the exercise of such right

women who fought for suffrage even as the world entered the 21st century, some nations still did not permit women's suffrage

Recent Examples on the Web

In 1872, more than 150 years ago, Virginia Woodhull, an activist in the suffrage movement, became the first woman to run for president as a member of the National EqualRights Party. —Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2025 They have been involved in advocating for the protection of Native Americans’ rights, were early abolitionists and had many leaders involved in the women’s suffrage movement, according to History.com. —Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2025 These moments were not radical signs of social change, but helped to birth a movement of collective action that would drive the rest of the 19th century through labor unions, social reforms, and women’s suffrage. —Elizabeth M. Reese / Made By History, TIME, 26 Nov. 2024 And some, many of whom belonged to the upper classes, forced their way into political and civic life, lobbying for, and winning, suffrage. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 22 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for suffrage

Etymology

Middle English, "help, aid, intercessory prayer, indulgence," borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin suffrāgium "vote, selection, aid, support, intercessory prayer," going back to Latin, "vote cast in an assembly, right to vote, decision reached by a vote, influence exerted in support of a candidate or policy," from suffrāgor, suffrāgārī "to express public support (for a candidate, measure, etc.), be favorable (toward)" (from suf-, assimilated form of sub- sub- + -frāg-, probably from the base of frangere, past participle frāctus, "to break, shatter") + -ium, deverbal suffix of function or state — more at break entry 1

Note: Senses of suffrage having to do with voting were borrowed directly from classical Latin from the 16th century onward. The older literal meaning of Latin suffrāgārī that presumably underlies the attested senses having to do with political support and voting is obscure. Though the identity of suf- is clear, the element -frāg- has been subject to varying analyses. The most commonly accepted view sees -frāg- —despite the unexpected vowel length—as representing the verb frangere, though the import is not obvious. The idea that the reference is to the use of broken pieces of tile or pottery in voting is unlikely in view of what is known of earlier Roman election practices; moreover, the primary meaning of the verb suffrāgārī is more oriented toward support of a candidate than the mechanics of voting. In a revival of an older analysis Jyri Vaahtera connects -frāg- with the noun fragor "noise of breaking, crash, noisy clamor, shouting," and assumes that the verb alluded to the noise of an armed assembly banging weapons as a sign of acclamation (see "The origin of Latin suffrāgium," Glotta, vol. 61 [1993], pp. 66-80.)

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of suffrage was in the 14th century