Mandate
Thin election wins, society meeting votes on water first and paint later, and three-district work orders all carry this noun: authority placed into someone’s hands.
Learn This WordMeaning
Authority given by voters.
Memory trick
MAN-DATE: the voters hand (manus) a dated order to rule.
Examples
The mandate favored reform.
The residents’ mandate was clear: fix the water first, paint later.
She won with a mandate so thin that every ally became a veto player.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Latin mandatum "order, commission," from manus "hand" + dare "to give." Voters place authority into a leader’s hands.
Usage Notes
Democratic legitimacy word: people’s mandate, clear mandate, fractured mandate. As a verb (MAN-dayt) it means to order officially.
Real-life contexts
Use in polity: "The mandate rewards delivery, not promises."
Use at work: "Our mandate covers three districts."
Use in debate: "A thin mandate demands wider consensus."
Common Mistakes
Mandate is authority granted, usually by vote; a government order without backing is a directive, not a mandate. Noun MAN-dayt, verb man-DAYT.
Master This Word
Add "mandate" to your vocabulary and practice with AI & smart flashcards!
Start LearningQuick Facts
Part of Speech
noun
Difficulty
intermediateMonthly Searches
~46,000