write-in

1 of 2

noun

1
: a vote cast by writing in the name of a candidate
2
: a candidate whose name is written in

write in

2 of 2

verb

wrote in; written in; writing in; writes in

transitive verb

1
: to insert in a document or text
2
a
: to insert (a name not listed on a ballot or voting machine) in an appropriate space
b
: to cast (a vote) in this manner

Examples of write-in in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Antczak is running as a write-in after having been removed from the ballot over a paperwork error. Alison Dirr, Journal Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2024 Yet Biden won that Jan. 23 primary as a write-in candidate regardless. Jeongyoon Han, NPR, 6 Mar. 2024 New England Democrats mounted a determined write-in effort for Mr. Biden, hoping to avoid an embarrassing loss. Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2024 Those that followed were Christine Brady, a nonprofit president; Delfina Gonzalez, a union organizer; Jose Sarmiento, a bank manager and Leticia Lares, a write-in candidate. Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024 Pargas was reelected to his county commission seat less than six months after the tragedy, defeating three write-in candidates who included Javier Cazares, whose 9-year-old daughter Jackie was killed in the massacre. Rachel Clarke, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024 Some experts worry, however, that the addition of more check boxes, along with a write-in option, might confuse respondents and make the census form too complex to generate accurate data. Denise Lu, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2024 Luqman voted for Bernie Sanders in 2020, both in the March primary of that year, and in the fall as a write-in. Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 27 Feb. 2024 Leticia Lares, a Harborside Park advocate, is a write-in candidate. Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2024
Verb
Clermont County Common Pleas Judge Richard Ferenc wrote in a ruling that authorities failed to appropriately notify Chad Doerman, 33, of his Miranda rights, including his right against self-incrimination and his right to an attorney, before investigators interrogated him. Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 21 Mar. 2024 Youngkin wrote in his veto message that law enforcement can already seek hiring waivers and that the bill would remove the ability to grant waivers for hiring people without a high school diploma. Gregory S. Schneider, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024 The discovery of the new amphibian species could provide some answers to how frogs and salamanders evolved to get their special characteristics today, the authors wrote in the paper. Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024 Jazz Parks, interim superintendent of Ann Arbor Public Schools, wrote in a note to the community that the district is facing a shortfall in the current school year budget, a shortfall discovered in an audit earlier in the school year. Lily Altavena, Detroit Free Press, 20 Mar. 2024 Such a broad definition could discourage legitimate exchanges with diplomats, Simon Young, a law professor at the University of Hong Kong, wrote in a submission to the government last month. David Pierson, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2024 At the same time, traditional child-care providers were becoming less available, Miriam Forman-Brunell, a historian at the University of Missouri at Kansas City, wrote in her book Babysitter: An American History; grandparents, for instance, were enjoying social lives of their own. Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 19 Mar. 2024 The album was written in chronological order across five days: three in December 2022 and two in January 2023. Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2024 Owners deny harming pit bull pup An officer who went to the home about 9:20 a.m. wrote in the report that a woman there refused to open the door, but indicated a puppy lived at the address when the officer asked if any dogs lived there. Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'write-in.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1932, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of write-in was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near write-in

Cite this Entry

“Write-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/write-in. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

write-in

1 of 2 noun
ˈrīt-ˌin
1
: a vote cast by writing in the name of a candidate
2
: a candidate whose name is written in

write in

2 of 2 verb
: to insert (a name not listed on a ballot or voting machine) in an appropriate space

More from Merriam-Webster on write-in

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!