protest vote
Americannoun
-
a ballot cast for a candidate with a minimal chance of winning, to register dislike for the other candidates.
Etymology
Origin of protest vote
First recorded in 1970–75
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But his opponent, 43-year-old Robert Kyagulanyi, better known as Bobi Wine, has framed the election as a protest vote and cannily turned the national flag into a symbol of resistance.
From Barron's • Jan. 11, 2026
Yulia Navalnaya described queuing for six hours outside the Russian embassy in Berlin as part of the protest vote campaign.
From BBC • Mar. 17, 2024
In past uncompetitive presidential primaries, the typical protest vote has been about 7 percent.
From New York Times • Feb. 27, 2024
But for Alawieh, Tuesday's protest vote is not about the primary or the general election.
From Salon • Feb. 24, 2024
With only a few days before voters go the polls, Pemech Estrada was leaning toward casting a null vote, essentially a protest vote.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 24, 2023
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.