Definition of "electorate" []

• A body of qualified voters. (noun)
• The dignity or territory of an elector of the Holy Roman Empire. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "But there are signs that the Tory party has been both damaged by the expenses scandal more than they care to admit and that the electorate is as yet not in the least bit persuaded that Cameron and Osborne have got what it takes."
• "The fact that Tuesday's electorate is far more conservative than the last midterm electorate in 2006 is a sign of how mobilized the right was this year, and the Tea Party had something to do with that."
• "The big middle of the electorate is aligned with Republican sentiment on those particular issues."