Meanings
- governmentA political system that has elements of both the Westminster system and the United States' political system ("Washington").
The move toward the "Washminster" model identified in the early 1980s may be measured by shifts in several of these indicators.
2017, Jong S. Jun, Development in the Asia Pacific: A Public Policiy Perspective, Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG, →ISBN, page 4792 more examples
Having read Graham Maddox I can no longer complacently describe the Australian system as a Washminster mutation, nor as a successful system of representative democracy government, as I have in the past.
2005, A Passion for Politics: Essays in Honour of Graham MaddoxThis has caused speculation that New Zealand is moving from a classic Westminster parliamentary system to a more parliamentary-congressional 'Washminster' hybrid.
2007, Stephen I. Levine, Nigel S. Roberts, The Baubles of Office: The New Zealand General Election of 2005
Origin
Blend of Washington + Westminster. Coined by political scientist Elaine Thompson in 1980.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 華盛敏斯特變體 /华盛敏斯特变体
- 華盛敏斯特變體 /华盛敏斯特变体 (Huáshèng Mǐnsītè biàntǐ)political system
Finnish Washminster-järjestelmä
- Washminster-järjestelmäpolitical system
Cite this entry
Washminster. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Washminster
“Washminster.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Washminster. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Washminster,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Washminster.
Source: Washminster on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.