representative democracy

American  

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

noun

plural

representative democracies

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

• unrepresentative democracy noun

Example Sentences

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

Next time, he should consider learning how representative democracy works.

From Slate • May 31, 2025

We are in the same fight for a fully representative democracy that has marked our entire nation's history.

From Salon • May 6, 2025

In a representative democracy, who ultimately has the most to lose if they are no longer informed about the actions of their public bodies?

From Seattle Times • Apr. 19, 2024

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