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direct democracy

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

noun

  1. 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.

But the article telling the Swiss how to vote came across to many as blatant interference in their widely respected system of direct democracy, and has caused real anger.

From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026

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

The battle between direct democracy and representative government isn’t new, and it hasn’t always been the domain of just Republicans.

From Salon • May 30, 2025

More to the point, not every state has direct democracy of the kind that has propelled ballot measures to date.

From Slate • Nov. 8, 2024

The absence of settled public law and the influence of direct democracy made a complete ministry of finance impossible.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 3 "Fenton, Edward" to "Finistere" by Various

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.