Synonyms of “Elected”: Usage, Differences, and Examples Explained

by

Understanding synonyms of “elected” is essential for achieving fluency and precision in English. Whether you are an ESL learner, a student, a teacher, a writer, or a professional, expanding your vocabulary with alternatives to “elected” will help you avoid repetition, express subtle nuances, and tailor your language to various contexts. Synonyms of “elected” are widely used in politics, business, academia, and everyday conversation. Knowing when and how to use each synonym lets you communicate with clarity, accuracy, and variety.

This comprehensive guide explores the meaning, structural patterns, categories, usage rules, and common mistakes related to synonyms of “elected.” You will find detailed explanations, tables, dozens of examples, and practice exercises with answers. The article is designed to be accessible and educational for learners at all levels.

Below you will find a table of contents with links to each section. Use it to navigate to the topics most relevant to you.

3. Definition Section

3.1 What Does “Elected” Mean?

Elected is the past tense and past participle of the verb elect. To elect means to choose or select someone for a position or role, especially by voting. The word can also serve as an adjective, as in “elected officials.”

Etymology: From Latin eligere (“to pick out, choose”).

Part of Speech: Verb (past tense, past participle); also participial adjective (“the elected representative”).

Related Forms: Election (noun), elective (adjective/noun), elect (verb/noun).

Table 1: Word Family of “Elect”
Form Word Example Sentence
Verb (base) elect They elect a new leader every year.
Verb (past/past part.) elected She was elected president in 2020.
Noun election The election was held last week.
Adjective elective This is an elective course.
Adjective (participle) elected The elected officials met yesterday.
Noun (rare) elect The president-elect will be sworn in next month.

3.2 Grammatical Classification

Transitive verb: “Elect” always takes a direct object.

Example: The committee elected a new chairperson.

Passive voice usage: The object becomes the subject.

Example: A new chairperson was elected by the committee.

Past participle as adjective: Used before nouns to describe someone who has been elected.

Example: The elected officials gave speeches.

3.3 Function and Usage Contexts

  • Political context: Choosing leaders by vote (e.g., presidents, mayors, representatives).
  • Organizational/club context: Electing board members, officers, or committee chairs.
  • Figurative and extended uses: “Elected to lead the team”, or “elected for greatness” (metaphoric).

3.4 Why Use Synonyms?

  • To avoid repetition: Using the same word repeatedly can sound monotonous.
  • To express subtle differences in meaning or tone: “Appointed” implies assignment, while “elected” implies choice by vote.
  • To improve clarity or formality: Synonyms can be more appropriate in formal or informal settings.

4. Structural Breakdown

4.1 Syntactic Patterns of “Elected” and Its Synonyms

Common sentence structures:

  • Active: Subject + verb + object
    The committee elected Sarah.
  • Passive: Subject + was/were + verb (past participle) (+ by agent)
    Sarah was elected by the committee.
Table 2: Sentence Structure Comparison
Structure “Elected” Synonym Example (“Appointed”)
Active The board elected a new CEO. The board appointed a new CEO.
Passive A new CEO was elected by the board. A new CEO was appointed by the board.

4.2 Verb Forms & Tenses

“Elected” and its synonyms follow regular verb patterns. Below is a table showing their basic conjugations:

Table 3: Conjugation Patterns for “Elect” and Main Synonyms
Verb Present Past Past Participle Continuous
Elect elect(s) elected elected electing
Appoint appoint(s) appointed appointed appointing
Select select(s) selected selected selecting
Choose choose/chooses chose chosen choosing
Pick pick(s) picked picked picking
Name name(s) named named naming

4.3 Grammatical Functions in Sentences

  • Subject: The person/thing doing the electing.
    The voters elected the candidate.
  • Object: The person/thing being elected.
    The voters elected the candidate.
  • Complement: After linking verbs, e.g., “He was elected president.”
  • In noun clauses: “We don’t know who was elected.”

4.4 Differences in Collocation

Typical collocations with “elected”: president, official, leader, representative, to office, by vote.

Typical collocations with “appointed”: as manager, to the board, by the chairman.

Table 4: Common Collocations for “Elected” and Synonyms
Word Common Collocations Example
elected to office, as president, leader, representative She was elected as president.
appointed as manager, to the board, by the committee He was appointed as manager.
chosen/selected for the role, as winner, by the team She was chosen for the role.
picked for the team, as captain He was picked as team captain.

5. Types or Categories of Synonyms

5.1 Direct Synonyms: Same Core Meaning

  • Chosen
  • Selected
  • Appointed

These words can often be substituted for “elected,” especially outside strictly political contexts.

5.2 Contextual Synonyms: Overlapping but Nuanced

  • Voted in
  • Named
  • Picked

These synonyms share some meaning with “elected” but may suggest a different process or level of formality.

5.3 Formal vs. Informal Synonyms

  • Formal: appointed, designated, selected
  • Informal: picked, named

5.4 Synonyms by Context

5.4.1 Political/Official Contexts

  • elected, appointed, designated, voted in, selected

5.4.2 Organizational/Club Contexts

  • elected, appointed, chosen, picked, named

5.4.3 Everyday/Colloquial Contexts

  • picked, chosen, named
Table 5: Synonyms Categorized by Context and Register
Context Formal Neutral Informal
Political/Official appointed, designated elected, selected voted in
Organizational/Club appointed elected, chosen, selected picked, named
Everyday/Colloquial – chosen, selected picked, named

6. Examples Section

6.1 Examples of “Elected” in Sentences

  1. She was elected as the new mayor.
  2. The students elected a class representative.
  3. He was elected to the city council last year.
  4. Maria was elected by a unanimous vote.
  5. The president is elected every four years.
  6. We elected John as our team leader.
  7. She was elected to office after a close race.
  8. The board elected a new chairperson.
  9. The members elected her for her dedication.
  10. He was elected despite not campaigning actively.

6.2 Examples of Each Direct Synonym

“Chosen”—5 examples

  1. She was chosen as the best candidate for the job.
  2. They have chosen a new leader.
  3. He was chosen by the committee.
  4. The class chose her to represent them.
  5. We have chosen you as our spokesperson.

“Selected”—5 examples

  1. He was selected for the scholarship.
  2. The board selected a new director.
  3. She was selected among several applicants.
  4. The team selected its captain.
  5. They were selected based on experience.

“Appointed”—5 examples

  1. She was appointed as chairperson.
  2. The minister was appointed by the president.
  3. He was appointed to the committee.
  4. A new manager has been appointed.
  5. The board appointed her as director.

“Voted in”—5 examples

  1. He was voted in as president.
  2. The members voted in a new chairperson.
  3. She was voted in after a close contest.
  4. They voted in new officers for the club.
  5. The new mayor was voted in last week.

“Named”—5 examples

  1. She was named team captain.
  2. He was named as chairman of the board.
  3. The committee named her as spokesperson.
  4. They named him the winner.
  5. She was named to the panel.

“Picked”—5 examples

  1. He was picked to lead the team.
  2. We picked her as our representative.
  3. The group picked a new coordinator.
  4. She was picked for the position.
  5. They picked him out of all the candidates.

“Designated”—3 examples

  1. She was designated as the official spokesperson.
  2. The committee designated him as the leader.
  3. He was designated to represent the group.

“Installed”—3 examples

  1. She was installed as president during the ceremony.
  2. The newly installed officials took office.
  3. He was installed as the head of the department.
Table 6: Side-by-Side Sentence Examples with “Elected” and Each Synonym
With “Elected” With Synonym
She was elected as president. She was appointed as president.
The class elected a representative. The class chose a representative.
He was elected by the committee. He was selected by the committee.
They elected a new team leader. They picked a new team leader.
She was elected after a close vote. She was voted in after a close vote.
He was elected to the board. He was named to the board.

6.3 Increasing Complexity

  • Simple present: He is elected every year.
  • Past simple: She was appointed last month.
  • Passive constructions: They were selected by the team.
  • Modal verbs: He could be chosen for the position.
  • Perfect tenses: She has been named as director.
  • Continuous tenses: We are electing new officers.
Table 7: Sentence Complexity Progression
Level Example with “Elected” Example with Synonym (“Appointed”)
Simple Present She is elected every year. She is appointed every year.
Past Simple He was elected last week. He was appointed last week.
Present Perfect They have been elected. They have been appointed.
Passive Modal She could be elected. She could be appointed.

6.4 Collocations and Phrases

  • Elected to office
  • Appointed as manager
  • Chosen for the role
  • Picked as leader
  • Named as chair
  • Voted in as president
  • Designated official
  • Installed as director
Table 8: Common Phrases Using Each Synonym
Synonym Common Phrase Example
elected elected to office He was elected to office in 2022.
appointed appointed as manager She was appointed as manager last month.
chosen chosen for the role She was chosen for the role of spokesperson.
picked picked as leader He was picked as leader by the team.
named named as chair He was named as chair of the meeting.
voted in voted in as president She was voted in as president.
designated designated official He is the designated official for the event.
installed installed as director She was installed as director last year.

6.5 Synonyms in Questions and Negatives

  • Was he elected last year?
  • She was not appointed as manager.
  • Have they been chosen yet?
  • He was never picked for the role.
  • Were you named to the committee?
  • She was not selected for the scholarship.
  • Has he been voted in?
  • They were not designated as team leaders.
  • Were you installed as president?
  • He has not been appointed yet.

6.6 Special Usage Examples

  • He was elected to lead the team during the crisis. (idiomatic)
  • She was chosen for greatness from an early age. (figurative)
  • They felt appointed by fate to undertake the mission. (figurative/idiomatic)
  • The designated hitter in baseball has a special role.
  • He was picked out of the crowd for a prize. (idiomatic)

7. Usage Rules

7.1 When to Use Each Synonym

  • Elected: Used when a choice is made by voting.
  • Appointed: Used when someone assigns a person to a position, not by vote.
  • Chosen/Selected: Used for general choosing, regardless of method.
  • Picked: Informal, used in casual or everyday speech.
  • Named: Often used for designating or announcing someone for a role.
  • Voted in: Used in the context of being accepted by vote.
Table 9: Usage Scenarios and Recommended Synonyms
Context Recommended Synonym(s) Example
Political election elected, voted in She was elected mayor.
Company position (by board) appointed, named He was appointed CEO.
Club or team chosen, picked, elected He was picked as team captain.
General selection chosen, selected She was selected for the award.

7.2 Formality and Register

  • Most formal: appointed, designated
  • Neutral: elected, selected, chosen
  • Informal: picked, named
Table 10: Synonyms Mapped by Formality Scale
Formality Level Synonyms Example
Formal appointed, designated, installed She was appointed as director.
Neutral elected, selected, chosen She was elected president.
Informal picked, named He was picked as captain.

7.3 Subject-Verb Agreement and Passive Voice

  • Active: The team elects its captain.
  • Passive: The captain was elected by the team.
  • Subject-verb agreement: The verb must agree with its subject in number.
  • Example: The managers were appointed. / The manager was appointed.

7.4 Prepositions and Object Types

  • Elected as / to (as president, to the board)
  • Appointed as / to / by
  • Named as / to / for
  • Selected for / as
  • Picked as / for
Table 11: Synonyms and Typical Prepositions
Synonym Typical Prepositions Example
elected as, to He was elected as chair.
appointed as, to, by She was appointed by the board.
named as, to, for He was named to the post.
picked as, for She was picked as leader.
selected for, as He was selected for the team.

7.5 Special Cases and Exceptions

  • Do not use “elected” for appointments made without voting (e.g., “He was elected CEO by the owner” is incorrect; use “appointed”).
  • In American English, “elected official” is common, while in British English, “appointed official” is used more often in certain contexts.
  • Some synonyms are not interchangeable in all contexts (e.g., “installed” is used only for formal ceremonies).

8. Common Mistakes

8.1 Confusing “Elected” with Other Terms

  • “Elected” vs. “Appointed”: “Elected” means chosen by vote; “appointed” means assigned by authority.
  • “Elected” vs. “Selected”: “Elected” involves voting; “selected” can be by any method.

8.2 Incorrect Collocations

  • Incorrect: “elected for president”
  • Correct: “elected as president” or “elected president”

8.3 Errors in Register or Context

  • Avoid using informal synonyms like “picked” in formal contexts:
  • Incorrect: “He was picked as the new director” (in a formal business report)
  • Correct: “He was appointed as the new director”

8.4 Overuse and Redundancy

  • Do not repeat “elected” or its synonyms unnecessarily in the same sentence.
  • Incorrect: “She was chosen and picked by the team.”
  • Correct: “She was chosen by the team.”

8.5 Correct vs. Incorrect Usage Table

Table 12: Common Mistakes and Their Corrections
Incorrect Correct Explanation
He was elected for president. He was elected president. No preposition needed.
She was picked as CEO (formal report). She was appointed as CEO. “Picked” is too informal.
The director was voted in by the owner. The director was appointed by the owner. “Voted in” suggests a group vote.
He was selected by voting. He was elected. “Elected” is the precise term for selection by vote.
They appointed him by election. They elected him. Use “elected” for a vote, “appointed” for assignment.

9. Practice Exercises

9.1 Fill-in-the-Blank (10 sentences)

  1. She was ______ as the new chairperson.
  2. The committee ______ a new secretary yesterday.
  3. He was ______ to the board by a unanimous vote.
  4. The manager was ______ by the company president.
  5. The club ______ its officers every year.
  6. He was ______ as team captain because of his skills.
  7. They ______ her to represent them at the meeting.
  8. Was she ______ for the scholarship?
  9. The new director was ______ during the ceremony.
  10. They ______ a leader for the project.

9.2 Correction Exercises (5 sentences)

  1. He was picked as the new CEO in the formal meeting.
  2. She was voted in by the company president.
  3. He was elected for the role of chairman.
  4. The committee selected him by voting.
  5. They chosen her as the spokesperson.

9.3 Synonym Identification (10 questions)

  1. Which synonym for “elected” is used in the sentence: “She was appointed as manager.”?
  2. Is “chosen” formal or informal in “He was chosen for the award.”?
  3. Does “voted in” suggest a group decision or individual assignment?
  4. In “He was selected by the committee,” what is the process implied?
  5. Is “picked” appropriate in business reports?
  6. Which word is more formal: “appointed” or “picked”?
  7. What is the preposition used with “named” in “She was named to the board.”?
  8. In “He was designated as the new leader,” is the process formal or informal?
  9. Does “installed” always involve a ceremony?
  10. Is “elected” always used for political positions?

9.4 Sentence Construction (5 prompts)

  1. Write a sentence using “appointed” in the passive voice.
  2. Write a sentence using “chosen” for a team selection.
  3. Use “voted in” in a question.
  4. Write a sentence using “named” for an award.
  5. Use “picked” in an informal context.

9.5 Multiple Choice (5 questions)

  1. Which is the most formal synonym for “elected”?
    1. picked
    2. appointed
    3. named
    4. chosen
  2. He was ______ as president after a close vote.
    1. appointed
    2. elected
    3. picked
    4. named
  3. Which synonym is best for informal speech?
    1. selected
    2. installed
    3. picked
    4. appointed
  4. She was ______ to the committee by the director.
    1. elected
    2. voted in
    3. appointed
    4. picked
  5. Which preposition is correct: She was appointed ______ manager.
    1. for
    2. as
    3. to
    4. in

9.6 Matching Exercise (Table)

Table 13: Match Sentence to Correct Synonym
Sentence Synonym
He was ______ as team captain. a) picked
She was ______ by the board of directors. b) appointed
They ______ her for the award. c) selected
She was ______ to the panel after a vote. d) elected
The committee ______ him as spokesperson. e) named

9.7 Answer Key

9.1 Fill-in-the-Blank Answers

  1. appointed
  2. elected
  3. elected
  4. appointed
  5. elects
  6. picked
  7. chose/chosen
  8. selected
  9. installed
  10. chose/selected/picked

Explanations:

  • 1: “Appointed” is used for formal assignment.
  • 2 & 3: “Elected” fits the context of choosing by vote.
  • 4: “Appointed” is done by a single authority.
  • 5: “Elects” is the present tense for habitual action.
  • 6: “Picked” is informal for team selections.
  • 7: “Chose” (past) or “chosen” (past participle) fit the structure.
  • 8: “Selected” is correct for awards/scholarships.
  • 9: “Installed” refers to formal induction ceremonies.
  • 10: “Chose/selected/picked” are all acceptable for general choice.

9.2 Correction Exercise Answers

  1. He was appointed as the new CEO in the formal meeting.
  2. She was appointed by the company president.
  3. He was elected to the role of chairman.
  4. The committee elected him.
  5. They chose her as the spokesperson.

Explanations:

  • “Picked” is too informal for a CEO appointment.
  • “Voted in” is not used for individual appointments by a single person.
  • “Elected” is correct for roles filled by voting.
  • “Selected” by voting is more precisely “elected.”
  • “Chosen” is the correct past participle.

9.3 Synonym Identification Answers

  1. appointed
  2. neutral/formal
  3. group decision
  4. some method of selection, not necessarily voting
  5. no
  6. appointed
  7. to
  8. formal
  9. yes
  10. no

9.4 Sentence Construction Sample Answers

  1. She was appointed as the new director by the board.
  2. He was chosen as the captain of the soccer team.
  3. Was she voted in as president?
  4. He was named as the winner of the competition.
  5. They picked him to organize the party.

9.5 Multiple Choice Answers

  1. b) appointed
  2. b) elected
  3. c) picked
  4. c) appointed
  5. b) as

9.6 Matching Exercise Answers

Sentence Correct Synonym
He was ______ as team captain. picked
She was ______ by the board of directors. appointed
They ______ her for the award. selected
She was ______ to the panel after a vote. elected
The committee ______ him as spokesperson. named

10. Advanced Topics

10.1 Subtle Meaning Differences

  • Elected: Choice by vote, often democratic.
  • Appointed: Placed in a role by an authority (no vote).
  • Selected/Chosen: General process of choosing, sometimes by vote, sometimes not.
  • Designated: Formally named, sometimes for a specific purpose.

Example: A judge can be appointed by the president, but a senator is elected by voters.

10.2 Register Shifts in Professional vs. Everyday Language

  • In professional writing: “appointed,” “designated,” and “selected” are preferred.
  • In casual speech: “picked” and “named” are common.
  • Choice of synonym can change the tone and formality of your writing.

10.3 Usage in Passive and Causative Structures

  • Passive: “She had been elected by the members.”
  • Causative: “He was made president” (someone caused the change).

10.4 Synonyms as Participial Adjectives

  • The elected officials gathered at city hall.
  • The appointed leader addressed the group.
  • The chosen candidate accepted the prize.

10.5 Synonyms Across Disciplines

Table 14: Synonym Usage by Field
Field Preferred Synonym(s) Example
Law appointed, designated He was appointed as judge.
Academia elected, selected She was elected as department chair.
Business appointed, named He was named CEO.
Religion elected, installed The bishop was installed last Sunday.

10.6 Historical and Etymological Notes

  • “Elect” originates from Latin eligere (“to choose”).
  • “Appoint” comes from Old French apointer (“to arrange, settle”).
  • “Select” is from Latin selectus (“chosen”).
  • Over time, “elected” has become strongly associated with voting, while “appointed” has become linked with decisions made by individuals or small groups.

11. FAQ Section

  1. What is the difference between “elected” and “appointed”?
    “Elected” means chosen by a group through voting. “Appointed” means assigned by an individual or group with authority, without a vote.
  2. Can “chosen” always replace “elected”?
    No. “Chosen” is a general term, but “elected” specifically means chosen by vote. In political contexts, “elected” is more precise.
  3. Is “selected” more formal than “picked”?
    Yes. “Selected” is neutral or formal, used in official contexts. “Picked” is informal and used in everyday speech.
  4. When should I use “voted in” instead of “elected”?
    Use “voted in” to emphasize the process of voting or when the result of the vote is highlighted (e.g., “voted in as president”).
  5. What prepositions are correct with “elected” and its synonyms?
    “Elected

    to office,” “appointed as,” “chosen for,” and “named as” are common constructions.

12. Conclusion

Mastering synonyms for “elected” enhances communication skills across various contexts. By understanding the nuances, formality levels, and proper usage of terms like “appointed,” “chosen,” “selected,” and others, you can express your ideas with greater precision and avoid repetition.

Remember to consider the context, audience, and desired tone when choosing the most appropriate synonym. Through consistent practice and attention to detail, you can confidently use these words to enrich your vocabulary and improve your overall language proficiency.

Leave a Comment