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direct democracy

American

[di-rekt di-mah-kruh-see, dahy-rekt] / dɪˈrɛkt dɪˈmɑ krə si, daɪˈrɛkt /

noun

government with direct rule by the people, without the involvement of elected representatives.

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.

Madison especially thought pure direct democracy would prove unstable, a too-slight skiff heaved about in history’s seas.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 23, 2025

This time they said enough was enough, using the power that Switzerland's system of direct democracy gives them to vote themselves an extra month's pension each year.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2024

For the Founders, "democracy" meant some sort of direct democracy, where the people themselves rule.

From Salon • Sep. 26, 2023

Even the direct democracy option is drifting out of reach.

From Slate • Mar. 17, 2023

Is not that a reductio ad absurdum for this system of pure and direct democracy?

From Ethics in Service by Taft, William H.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023