thin majority

[/θɪn məˈdʒɒrɪti/]
nounpl: thin majorities
maioria apertada
1. A majority of votes or seats in a legislature that is only slightly larger than half, leaving little room for error or dissent
The government won the election with a thin majority of just three seats in parliament.
O governo venceu a eleição com uma maioria apertada de apenas três assentos no parlamento.
2. A narrow margin of victory or support that provides minimal leverage or stability
With such a thin majority, the bill's passage depends on every single vote.
Com uma maioria tão apertada, a aprovação do projeto de lei depende de cada voto.
This term is commonly used in political discourse in both the United States and Brazil when discussing parliamentary or congressional outcomes. In Brazil, 'maioria apertada' is frequently referenced in media coverage of legislative votes, particularly regarding controversial bills in the Chamber of Deputies or Senate. In the USA, it's especially relevant in discussions about House and Senate control, where a thin majority can significantly impact legislative agenda and government stability.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
narrow majorityslim majorityslender majoritybare majority
Antonyms / Antônimos
overwhelming majoritylandslidedecisive majoritycomfortable majority

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
maioria apertada
Most common and widely understood translation
General Brazilian
maioria estreita
Alternative formal translation
Portugal
maioria apertada
Same as Brazilian Portuguese; standard usage
Portugal
maioria frágil
Sometimes used to emphasize fragility

Related Words

majoritypluralitymargin of victorygovernment stabilityparliamentary arithmetic

Related Idioms & Phrases

win by a whisker
scraped by
hang by a thread
call the shots with a thin majority
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →