direct primary

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

direct′ pri′mary, [U.S. Politics.]

1. Government a primary in which members of a party nominate its candidates by direct vote. Cf. indirect primary.

• 1895–1900

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

direct primary noun

1. a primary in which voters directly select the candidates who will run for office