'当选' is a verb meaning 'to be elected' — it describes the outcome of an election where someone wins and officially assumes a position. The character 当 (dāng) here carries the sense of 'to assume (a role or office)', while 选 (xuǎn) means 'to select' or 'to elect'. Together, they form a compound verb indicating successful selection by vote for a formal post, such as president, delegate, committee member, or representative. It is commonly used in political, organizational, and academic contexts.

This word is strictly passive in meaning — the subject is always the person who wins the election, never the voters or the process itself. It typically appears with time phrases (e.g., 上个月, 去年), positional nouns (e.g., 校长, 市长, 全国人大代表), or result complements (e.g., 当选为…, 当选为…后). It does not take objects directly; instead, it's often followed by 为 to introduce the position attained. While formal, it’s widely used in news reports, official announcements, and everyday discussion of elections.