The process of being elected again to the same office or position, typically after serving a previous term. Common in democratic political systems with term limits.
English compound of 're-' (again) + 'election' (from Latin 'eligere,' to choose out). The concept developed with democratic institutions in the 17th-18th centuries as regular electoral cycles became established in representative governments.
The word embodies democracy's central tension between continuity and change - voters can reward effective leadership with reelection or demand fresh perspectives through electoral defeat. Incumbent advantage in reelections has become a major factor in political science, as name recognition and established networks often favor sitting officials.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.