representative

[rep-ri-zen-tuh-tiv]

noun

1. a person or thing that represents another or others.

2. an agent or deputy.

   a legal representative.

3. a person who represents a constituency or community in a legislative body, especially a member of the U.S. House of Representatives or a lower house in certain state legislatures.

4. a typical example or specimen of a group, quality, or kind.

adjective

1. serving to represent; representing.

   Synonyms: characteristic, typical, exemplary, symbolic

2. standing or acting for another or others.

3. made up of representatives.

   a representative assembly.

4. Government.,  of or relating to a system of governance by chosen representatives, usually elected from among a large group, as in

5. exemplifying a group or kind; typical.

   a representative selection of Elizabethan plays.

6. corresponding to or replacing some other species or the like, as in a different locality.

7. of, relating to, or characteristic of representationalism.

8. pertaining to or of the nature of a mental image or representation.

representative

/ ˌrɛprɪˈzɛntətɪv /

noun

1. a person or thing that represents another or others

2. Often shortened to: rep. a person who represents and tries to sell the products or services of a firm, esp a travelling salesman

3. a typical example

4. a person representing a constituency in a deliberative, legislative, or executive body, esp ( capital ) a member of the House of Representatives (the lower house of Congress) See also House of Representatives

5. a rugby player, football player, etc, chosen to represent a province in interprovincial sports

adjective

1. serving to represent; symbolic

2. 1. exemplifying a class or kind; typical

      a representative example of the species

   2. containing or including examples of all the interests, types, etc, in a group

      a representative collection

3. acting as deputy or proxy for another or others

4. acting for or representing a constituency or the whole people in the process of government

   a representative council

5. of, characterized by, or relating to the political principle of representation of the people

   representative government

6. of or relating to a mental picture or representation

Other Word Forms

• representatively adverb
• representativeness noun
• nonrepresentative noun
• nonrepresentatively adverb
• nonrepresentativeness noun
• overrepresentative adjective
• overrepresentatively adverb
• overrepresentativeness noun
• unrepresentative adjective
• unrepresentatively adverb
• unrepresentativeness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of representative¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English (adjective), from Medieval Latin repraesentātīvus, from repraesentāt(us) “made present” ( representation ) + -īvus -ive

Example Sentences

Because this election is not just about sending one representative to the Senedd, it is also about creating the right foundation for success in the Senedd election next May.

Read more on BBC

Hamas has handed over the first seven of 20 surviving Israeli hostages to Red Cross representatives in Gaza City, Israeli public radio reported Monday.

Read more on Barron's

Several months later, Corday Productions offered to renew Zucker’s contract but allegedly did not negotiate with her representatives for higher pay, the lawsuit said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Tehran confirmed on Sunday that it received an official invitation from Cairo to attend a Gaza summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, state media reported, without indicating whether a representative would attend.

Read more on Barron's

“We’re going after all these great things, only to like, shoot ourselves in the foot,” said Denise Villalobos, a Republican state representative for Texas’ 34th district, which covers parts of Corpus Christi.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• agent 
• commissioner 
• counselor 
• delegate 
• deputy 
• lawyer 
• legislator 
• member 
• senator