at large

at large

1. free; uncaptured. (Usually said of criminals not in custody.) •

At noon, the day after the robbery, the thieves were still at large.

•

There is a murderer at large in the city!

2. in general; according to a general sample. •

Truck drivers at large don't like the new speed restriction on the highway.

•

Students at large felt that discipline was too strict.

3. representing the whole group rather than its subsections. (Always refers to a special kind of elective office.) •

He ran for representative at large.

•

She represented shareholders at large on the governing board.

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{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Not kept within walls, fences, or boundaries; free. * /The killer remained at large for weeks./ Compare: AT LIBERTY. * /Cattle and sheep roamed at large on the big ranch./ 2. In a broad, general way; at length; fully. * /The superintendent talked at large for an hour about his hopes for a new school building./ 3. As a group rather than as individuals; as a whole; taken together. * /The junior class at large was not interested in a senior yearbook./ 4. As a representative of a whole political unit or area rather than one of its parts; from a city rather than one of its wards, or a state rather than one of its districts. * /He was elected congressman at large./ * /Aldermen are voted for at large./