plebiscite

[pleb-uh-sahyt, -sit] /ˈplɛb əˌsaɪt, -sɪt/

noun

a direct vote of the qualified voters of a state in regard to some important public question.

the vote by which the people of a political unit determine autonomy or affiliation with another country.

Origin

1525-35; < French < Latin plēbīscītum decree of the plebs, equivalent to plēbī (for plēbis, plēbēī genitive singular of plēbs, plēbēs plebs) + scītum resolution, decree, noun use of neuter of scītus, past participle of scīscere to enact, decree, orig., to seek to know, learn, inchoative of scīre to know

Examples from the web for plebiscite

The plebiscite is scheduled to occur on the same day as a referendum on southern secession.
All the more reason to wonder whether this election can be construed as a national plebiscite on net neutrality.
What annoys governments about stateless money is that it functions as a plebiscite on your policy.
Team owners must view the response as a dandy plebiscite on their channel.
Conclusions of this deductive process are not subject to plebiscite any more than is mathematics.
Not many people want government by plebiscite, certainly.
If a majority voted for the status quo in the first plebiscite, the proposal allows for another plebiscite eight years later.
In conversations with the public, staff stresses that the hearing is not a plebiscite.
No, such a trigger could have disastrous consequences, eventually leading to governance by shareholder plebiscite.

British Dictionary definitions for plebiscite

plebiscite

/ˈplɛbɪˌsaɪt; -sɪt/

noun

a direct vote by the electorate of a state, region, etc, on some question of usually national importance, such as union with another state or acceptance of a government programme

any expression or determination of public opinion on some matter

See also referendum

Derived Forms

plebiscitary (pləˈbɪsɪtərɪ) adjective

Word Origin

C16: from Old French plēbiscite, from Latin plēbiscītum decree of the people, from plēbs the populace + scītum, from scīscere to decree, approve, from scīre to know

Word Origin and History for plebiscite

"direct vote of the people," 1860 (originally in reference to Italian unification), from French plébiscite (1776 in modern sense, originally with reference to Switzerland), from Latin plebiscitum "a decree or resolution of the people," from plebs (genitive plebis) "the common people" (see plebeian (adj.)) + scitum "decree," noun use of neuter past participle of sciscere "to assent, vote for, approve," inchoative of scire "to know" (see science). Used earlier (1530s) in a purely Roman historical context. Related: Plebiscitary.

plebiscite in Culture

plebiscite [(pleb-uh-seyet, pleb-uh-suht)]

A vote of an entire nation or other large political unit on an issue of great importance. A plebiscite is not an election, for there are no candidates. Rather, people vote yes or no on a proposition.