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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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Example Sentences

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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

Our research has shown that people around the globe think representative democracy is a good system of government.

From Salon Jan. 25, 2026

A few things are worth noting here, seeing as how California is supposed to be governed by a representative democracy.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 29, 2025

The French and the American revolutions both saw more or less tyrannical polities overtaken—at least on paper—by forms of representative democracy.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith

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