representative democracy

American  

[rep-ri-zent-uh-tiv di-mahk-ruh-see] / ˌrɛp rɪˈzɛnt ə tɪv dɪˈmɑk rə si /

noun

representative democracies plural

1. a political system in which the people elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf in a governing body.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unrepresentative democracy
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• representative democracies
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

representative democracy

To the extent that this whole machinery of law and justice and representative democracy was constructed for anyone, it was constructed for you.

From Slate ● Jul. 20, 2026

That makes the rich especially valuable in a representative democracy like the U.S., where policy is normally shaped by the play of public opinion, competition among interest groups and the weight of a permanent bureaucracy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 17, 2026

Over the years, California lawmakers have enacted policies aimed at encouraging the greatest voter turnout possible, which is a commendable goal in a representative democracy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 2, 2025

So, in the imaginary country, what would you do if your representatives failed to represent you in a representative democracy?

From Salon ● Jan. 16, 2025

It little resembles the representative democracy we recognize today, so it’s worth making a brief sketch of how it worked.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith