English

Alternative forms

• at-large

Prepositional phrase

at large

1. (idiomatic) On the loose; roaming freely; not confined.

   For a nervous twenty-four hours, three wanted criminals were at large in the city.

   The ambassador-at-large was designated to the Middle East as a region, rather than to a specific country.

2. (obsolete) In full, fully.
   • 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, vol.I, New York 2001, p.236:

     The like example I find in Lælius à Fonte Eugubinus, consult. 129 […]. Read in him the story at large.

3. In general; as a whole.

   Some people support the measure, but the community at large will probably be against it.

4. (US, politics, of an election) Having an electorate across multiple districts.

   The city has five city council districts; however, the mayor is elected at large.

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