swing state
noun
plural swing states
US politics
: a U.S. state in which Republican and Democratic candidates have similar levels of support and which is considered to play a key role in the outcome of presidential elections
The politics of immigration in Florida, a key swing state, are not as clear as they are in California.—
Tom Masland et al.
Tom Masland et al.If he is so polarizing, how was he elected five times in a swing state?—Nancy Gibbs et al.
Nancy Gibbs et al.Examples of swing state in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The causes of the deterioration are different in each case, and some of Washington’s grievances against Brazil, India, and South Africa—global swing states that will help dictate which country leads the world—are legitimate.
—Richard Fontaine, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2025
Ruh's resignation marked the latest development in a rocky year for the key swing state's Republican Party.
—Lawrence Andrea, jsonline.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Control of swing states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and North Carolina will be central to determining the balance of power in Congress in the 2026 midterms.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Pennsylvania has also become a key swing state in recent elections, with former President Biden picking it up in 2020 and President Trump picking it up in 2024.
—Tara Suter, The Hill, 1 Oct. 2025
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Richard Fontaine, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2025
Ruh's resignation marked the latest development in a rocky year for the key swing state's Republican Party.
—Lawrence Andrea, jsonline.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Control of swing states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and North Carolina will be central to determining the balance of power in Congress in the 2026 midterms.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Pennsylvania has also become a key swing state in recent elections, with former President Biden picking it up in 2020 and President Trump picking it up in 2024.
—Tara Suter, The Hill, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swing state
Cite this Entry
“Swing state.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swing%20state. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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