democrat
noun
an advocate of democracy.
Jump To:
democrat
1 American
[dem-uh-krat]
/ ˈdɛm əˌkræt /
noun
democrats
plural
-
an advocate of democracy.
-
a person who believes in the political or social equality of all people.
-
Politics. Democrat,
-
a member of the Democratic Party.
-
U.S. History. a member of the Democratic-Republican Party.
-
-
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
-
an advocate of democracy; adherent of democratic principles
-
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.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, blocked a confirmation vote for Clayton, who was eventually approved by the judges.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026
The 37-year-old former Presbyterian seminarian and middle school teacher is aiming to become the first Texas Democrat to win a Senate seat in three decades.
From Barron's • Jun. 13, 2026
Genis, who is a Social Democrat elected to Bern city council, dismisses these arguments as scapegoating.
From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026
Rep. John Larson, a Connecticut Democrat, would expand the tax base by applying the Social Security payroll tax to earnings above $400,000 a year.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026
Or what about that other neighbor’s kid, who claimed the opposite of a Democrat to be a pelican?
From "Typical American" by Gish Jen
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.
