Tocqueville

American  

[tohk-vil, tok-, tawk-veel] / ˈtoʊk vɪl, ˈtɒk-, tɔkˈvil /

noun

1. Alexis Charles Henri Maurice Clérel de 1805–59, French statesman and author.

---

Tocqueville British  

/ tɔkvil, ˈtɒk-, ˈtəʊkvɪl /

noun

1. Alexis Charles Henri Maurice Clérel de (alɛksi ʃarl ɑ̃ri mɔris klerɛl də). 1805–59, French politician and political writer. His chief works are De la Démocratie en Amérique (1835–40) and L'Ancien régime et la révolution (1856)

---

Example Sentences

Alexis de Tocqueville observed that democracies die when people become isolated, and that Americans overcome this danger by coming together.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 21, 2025

But “of all the forms democratic despotism could take,” Tocqueville continues, “the worst would be to turn over all the powers of government to the hands of an irresponsible person.”

From Salon • May 17, 2025

Speakers summoned the grand ideas of figures like the Pope, Homer, Dostoyevsky, Leo Strauss, Tocqueville and Gramsci.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 16, 2024

Alexis de Tocqueville saw America’s voluntary associations as one of the most admirable elements of our democracy.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 28, 2023

And in their final report to the government, Tocqueville and Beaumont wrote, One cannot see the prison of Sing-Sing and the system of labour which is there established without being struck by astonishment and fear.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover