Plurality

[ploo-ral-i-tee] /plʊˈræl ɪ ti/

noun, plural pluralities.
1.
the excess of votes received by the leading candidate, in an election in which there are three or more candidates, over those received by the next candidate (distinguished from ).
2.
more than half of the whole; the majority.
3.
a number greater than one.
4.
fact of being numerous.
5.
a large number; multitude.
6.
state or fact of being plural.
7.
Ecclesiastical.

/plʊəˈrælɪtɪ/
noun (pl) -ties
1.
the state of being plural or numerous
2.
(maths) a number greater than one
3.
(US & Canadian) the excess of votes or seats won by the winner of an election over the runner-up when no candidate or party has more than 50 per cent British equivalent relative majority
4.
a large number
5.
the greater number; majority
6.
another word for pluralism (sense 1)
n.

late 14c., “state of being plural,” from Old French pluralite (14c.), from Late Latin pluralitatem (nominative pluralitas), from Latin pluralis (see plural). Meaning “fact of there being many, multitude” is from mid-15c. Church sense of “holding of two or more offices concurrently” is from mid-14c. Meaning “greater number, more than half” is from 1570s but is etymologically improper, perhaps modeled on majority. U.S. sense of “excess of votes over rival candidate(s),” especially when none has an absolute majority, is from 1828.