democratic
Americanadjective
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pertaining to or of the nature of democracy or a democracy.
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pertaining to or characterized by the principle of political or social equality for all.
democratic treatment.
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advocating or upholding democracy.
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(initial capital letter)
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of, relating to, or characteristic of the Democratic Party.
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of, relating to, or belonging to the Democratic-Republican Party.
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adjective
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of, characterized by, derived from, or relating to the principles of democracy
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upholding or favouring democracy or the interests of the common people
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popular with or for the benefit of all
democratic sports
Usage
What does democratic mean? The adjective democratic is used to describe something that operates under or or resembles democracy, a form of government in which the citizens hold the power. Usually, the word democratic is used to describe political systems, governments, or countries that use such systems. It can also be used to describe voting systems, philosophies, or strategies that rely on a majority vote or that allow everyone to give their opinion. When capitalized, Democratic is used in the name of the Democratic Party, one of the major political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. Example: The United States of America practices a democratic form of government where citizens vote on issues and elect politicians by majority vote.
Other Word Forms
- antidemocratic adjective
- antidemocratical adjective
- antidemocratically adverb
- democratically adverb
- half-democratic adjective
- hyperdemocratic adjective
- nondemocratic adjective
- nondemocratical adjective
- nondemocratically adverb
- predemocratic adjective
- prodemocratic adjective
- pseudo-Democratic adjective
- pseudodemocratic adjective
- pseudodemocratically adverb
- quasi-democratic adjective
- quasi-democratically adverb
- superdemocratic adjective
- superdemocratically adverb
- undemocratic adjective
- undemocratically adverb
Etymology
Origin of democratic
1595–1605; < French démocratique or Medieval Latin dēmocraticus, both < Greek dēmokratikós, equivalent to dēmokrat ( ía ) ( see democracy) + -ikos -ic
Explanation
Things that are democratic are ruled by the people, for the people. A basic democratic process involves letting everyone vote on what they think is best for the whole group. Democratic government started thousands of years ago in ancient Greece, but it's still catching on all over the world. A dictatorship or monarchy is ruled by one person, but in a democratic society, or a democracy, the people rule. Even though there is a leader — a President in the United States — he or she is elected by the people. Anything that allows people more say in the government is democratic.
Vocabulary lists containing democratic
Africa - Introductory
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Canada - Introductory
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Eastern Europe - Introductory
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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.
A system can remain formally democratic while exhibiting significant distortions in competition, accountability and the rule of law.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026
Everyone in Hungary’s democratic resistance, regardless of ideology, united behind Péter Magyar, a charismatic candidate who only left Orbán’s nationalist party two years ago.
From Salon • Apr. 19, 2026
"He's someone who represents hope for unity, for democratic renewal, for a better future for the Palestinian people," he said.
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026
But he has also promised to restore democratic institutions and good ties with the rest of the EU.
From Slate • Apr. 13, 2026
And we pledge ourselves to strive together, sparing nothing of our strength and courage, until the democratic changes here set out have been won.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
