1. The right to vote in public elections: Suffrage most often takes place in democratic elections.
2. A vote given in favor of a proposed measure, candidate, etc.: A vote, or suffrage, is needed in order to elect an individual for a specific office or trust.
3. Etymology: "prayers or pleas on behalf of another", from Old French suffrage, from Medieval Latin suffragium, from Latin suffragium, "support, vote, right of voting", from suffragari, "to lend support, to vote for someone"; from sub-, "under" + fragor, "crash, din, shouts (as of approval)"; related to frangere, "to break".