democrat
noun
an advocate of democracy.
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democrat
1 American
[dem-uh-krat]
/ ˈdɛm əˌkræt /
noun
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an advocate of democracy.
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a person who believes in the political or social equality of all people.
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Politics. Democrat,
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a member of the Democratic Party.
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U.S. History. a member of the Democratic-Republican Party.
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Also called democrat wagon. a high, lightweight, horse-drawn wagon, usually having two seats.
Democrat
2
American
[dem-uhkrat]
/ ˈdɛmˌəkræt /
noun
Democrat
1
British
/ ˈdɛməˌkræt /
noun
democrat
2
British
/ ˈdɛməˌkræt /
noun
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an advocate of democracy; adherent of democratic principles
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a member or supporter of a democratic party or movement
Democrat
Cultural
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of democrat
First recorded in 1780–90; from French démocrate, back formation from démocratie democracy; see demo-, -crat
Explanation
A democrat is a person who believes in the rule of the people. If you think students should have a say in what courses they take in school, then it's very likely that you're a democrat. A democrat was a word that originally referred to a republican in the French Revolution, or someone who opposed the aristocracy. The prefix demo- means "common people." Democracy is a political system promoting the rule of the common people over the rich or elites. It presumes that every person should have a say in choosing who gets to represent him in government, and should be involved in promoting his own rights. A democrat is a person who believes in democracy.
Vocabulary lists containing democrat
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Critics call him extreme, though he recently told AFP he was a democrat who would "respect the constitution."
From Barron's • Mar. 9, 2026
“That changed everything,” said David Brauer, a retired journalist who wrote for Minneapolis publications and who identifies as a center-left social democrat.
From Slate • Nov. 3, 2025
Chancellor Scholz – a social democrat whose coalition government collapsed last year – castigated Merz for his actions.
From BBC • Jan. 29, 2025
Rutte‘s replacement after 13 years in office could be the country’s first female premier or a social democrat who left his job as the European Union‘s climate czar to return to national politics.
From Washington Times • Nov. 22, 2023
We love him because he was a natural democrat, and hated tyranny in every form.
From The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 3 (of 12) Dresden Edition?Lectures by Ingersoll, Robert Green
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
