補欠選挙(ほけつせんきょ)

ほけつせんきょ
noun
by-election; special election (to fill a vacancy)
1. by-election; special election (to fill a vacancy)
An election held to fill a seat in a legislative body that has become vacant due to the death, resignation, or disqualification of the incumbent. Common in Japanese political news coverage.
補欠(ほけつ)選挙(せんきょ)が行(おこな)われた。
A by-election was held.
議員(ぎいん)の辞職(じしょく)に伴(ともな)い、補欠(ほけつ)選挙(せんきょ)が実施(じっし)される。
A by-election will be held following the legislator's resignation.
来月(らいげつ)の参議院(さんぎいん)補欠(ほけつ)選挙(せんきょ)には五人(ごにん)の候補者(こうほしゃ)が名乗(なの)りを上(あ)げている。
Five candidates have announced their intention to run in next month's House of Councillors by-election.

An election held to fill a vacant seat in a legislative body. Vacancies typically arise from death, resignation, or disqualification of an elected official. Often abbreviated to 補選(ほせん) in news headlines and casual speech.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 補欠(ほけつ)選挙(せんきょ)を実施(じっし)する: to hold a by-election
  • 補欠(ほけつ)選挙(せんきょ)に立候補(りっこうほ)する: to run in a by-election
  • 衆議院(しゅうぎいん)/参議院(さんぎいん)補欠(ほけつ)選挙(せんきょ): House of Representatives/Councillors by-election

ABBREVIATION:

  • 補選(ほせん) — short form, very common in media

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 総選挙(そうせんきょ) — general election (all seats at once)
  • 統一(とういつ)地方(ちほう)選挙(せんきょ) — unified local elections
  • 再選挙(さいせんきょ) — re-election (when the original election was invalid)
general
Added 2026.4.5 7:20
22000/22076_hoketsusenkyo