representation

American  

[rep-ri-zen-tey-shuhn, -zuhn-] / ˌrɛp rɪ zɛnˈteɪ ʃən, -zən- /

noun

representations plural

1. the act of representing.

2. the state of being represented.

3. the expression or designation by some term, character, symbol, or the like.

4. action or speech on behalf of a person, group, business house, state, or the like by an agent, deputy, or representative.

5. the state or fact of being so represented.

   to demand representation on a board of directors.

6. Government. the state, fact, or right of being represented by delegates having a voice in legislation or government.

7. the body or number of representatives, as of a constituency.

8. Diplomacy.

   1. the act of speaking or negotiating on behalf of a state.

   2. an utterance on behalf of a state.

9. presentation to the mind, as of an idea or image.

10. a mental image or idea so presented; concept.

11. the act of portrayal, picturing, or other rendering in visible form.

12. a picture, figure, statue, etc.

13. the production or a performance of a play or the like, as on the stage.

14. Often representations. a description or statement, as of things true or alleged.

15. a statement of facts, reasons, etc., made in appealing or protesting; a protest or remonstrance.

16. Law. an implication or statement of fact to which legal liability may attach if material.

    a representation of authority.

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representation British  

/ ˌrɛprɪzɛnˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of representing or the state of being represented

2. anything that represents, such as a verbal or pictorial portrait

3. anything that is represented, such as an image brought clearly to mind

4. the principle by which delegates act for a constituency

5. a body of representatives

6. contract law a statement of fact made by one party to induce another to enter into a contract

7. an instance of acting for another, on his authority, in a particular capacity, such as executor or administrator

8. a dramatic production or performance

9. (often plural) a statement of facts, true or alleged, esp one set forth by way of remonstrance or expostulation

10. linguistics an analysis of a word, sentence, etc, into its constituents

    phonetic representation

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonrepresentation
  noun
• overrepresentation
  noun
• prerepresentation
  noun
• self-representation
  noun
• underrepresentation
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• representations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of representation

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English representacion, from Latin repraesentātiōn-, stem of repraesentātiō, from repraesentāt(us) “made present” (past participle of repraesentāre “to bring about immediately, make present”; see represent) + -iō -ion

Explanation

A representation acts or serves on behalf or in place of something. A lawyer provides legal representation for his client. A caricature is an exaggerated representation or likeness of a person. Representation comes from the Latin repraesentare meaning "bring before, exhibit." A representation is an exhibit, whether it comes in the form of legal guidance or in the form of artistic expression. The act of representation has to do with replacing or acting on behalf of an original. Elected officials serve as the representation for their constituency — or at least it's supposed to work that way.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

representation representations

His goal is “making sure that the 9th district has representation that actually fights for it.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

I’d say that’s a pretty good representation of the gap between the long-shot fantasy of midlife and an intimate understanding of how it actually turns out.

From Salon ● Jul. 26, 2026

Neil John Lewis, 47, pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation at Cardiff Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, and admitted he knew the car was "dangerous".

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

Under Australian law, employers and unions appoint directors to ISF trustee boards under what is called the equal representation model.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

We dismissed our advocates under the correct assumption that an accused, in the absence of representation, would be permitted to address the court.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Plaintiffs in the case, who filed their lawsuit in June 2025, argued that the discovery “flatly disproves” representations the government made in pursuit of the stay.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

“As with all of our client representations, we do not publicly discuss confidential matters involving our representation of the President,” the spokesman said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

Protagonist Clark loses himself in it, transforming into an unapologetic narcissist surrounded only by facile representations of humanity.

From Salon ● Jun. 8, 2026

The model is spread across Otford, near Sevenoaks, with representations of the Sun and planets placed around the parish and stretching into nearby woodland.

From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2026

The first of these representations emerged in the Ionian city of Miletus—a place on the far end of the Persian Royal Road from Mesopotamia, and therefore well positioned to receive astronomical inspiration from the east.

From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro

Related Words

• depiction
• image
• portrayal