Can one use the word 'majority' for the leading alternative (in a three way split) even if the proportion in favor is less than 50%?

If there is a political proposition with three alternatives and the leading alternative, that is to say that which command the most support, does not have 50% or more support can that alternative be described as commanding a majority?

Or is a majority strictly defined as having 50% or more support?

Solution 1:

According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary :

MAJORITY

a number or percentage equaling more than half of a total

// a majority of voters

// a two-thirds majority

Though in the special political context there are two terms: relative majority and absolute majority.

According to Collin's Dictionary :

Relative majority

the excess of votes or seats won by the winner of an election over the runner-up when no candidate or party has more than 50 per cent.

Absolute majority

a number of votes totalling over 50 per cent, such as the total number of votes or seats obtained by a party that beats the  combined  opposition.

Solution 2:

The word plurality means, in the context of voting,

3c a number of votes cast for a candidate in a contest of more than two candidates that is greater than the number cast for any other candidate but not more than half the total votes cast

This answers your question directly - 'plurality' is used purposefully in distinction to 'majority' which is a half or more. So, no, you cannot use majority for any amount less than a half.

This seems not to be used in the UK, but is exactly what is used in the US. I have no idea on other anglophone communities (AusE, NZE, SAE, etc.)