Whip – A person in a political party who ensures everyone in their party turns up to vote for what the leaders want

(Pronounced wip)

Note: We're assuming you already know that a whip is also a strip of leather or length of cord fastened to a handle, used for flogging or beating a person or for urging on an animal. (please don't try this on any people or animals you may know).

To remember the definition of the word whip, use the following mnemonic:

They were whipped (whip) into parliament to vote for what their leaders wanted.

Examples of whip in a sentence

She was ecstatic with her new position as whip for the labour party.

The MPs realised he had clearly misunderstood his new role as whip when he attempted to flog other members of the party. 

The party leader was very impressed with the party's new whip, the number of party members not voting was the lowest it had been in years.