Democracy — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /di-ˈmä-krə-sē/ de·moc·ra·cy

Meaning & Definition of Democracy

Democracy (noun)

  1. government by the people, rule of the majority
  2. a form of government in which the people elect representatives to make decisions, policies, laws, etc. according to law —called also representative democracy
  3. a form of government in which the people vote directly against or in favor of decisions, policies, laws, etc. —called also direct democracy, pure democracy

Democracy (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. government in which the supreme power is held by the people and used by them directly or indirectly through representation

    "under our democracy the people have some control over their lives by being able to select their own political leaders"

    similar: republic, self-government, self-rule
    related: pure democracy, home rule, self-determination, autonomy, sovereignty
    near: despotism, dictatorship, monarchy, monocracy, totalitarianism, tyranny

Related Entry: Pure democracy (noun)

Pure democracy is a different word from Democracy. The synonyms below are for pure democracy, not for democracy.

  1. as in democracy, autonomy

    similar: democracy, republic, self-government, self-rule, autonomy, sovereignty, home rule, self-determination
    opposite: despotism, dictatorship, monarchy, monocracy, totalitarianism, tyranny

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Democracy

The most common words with a similar meaning to Democracy:

republic, self-government, self-rule

Related Words for Democracy

pure democracy, home rule, self-determination, autonomy, sovereignty

Near Antonyms of Democracy

despotism, dictatorship, monarchy, monocracy, totalitarianism, tyranny

Word Forms of Democracy

Inflections: democracies

Origin & Etymology of Democracy

borrowed from Middle French democracie, democratie, borrowed from Late Latin dēmocratia, borrowed from Greek dēmokratía, from dēmo- demo- + -kratia -cracy

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Democracy

Words & Phrases Containing Democracy

direct democracy, pure democracy, representative democracy, social democracy, Tory Democracy

Frequently Asked Questions about Democracy

What does "Democracy" mean?

"Democracy" means government by the people, rule of the majority. As a noun, it is defined as: government by the people, rule of the majority.

What is another word for "Democracy"?

Other words for "Democracy" include republic, self-government and self-rule. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Democracy" you intend.

How do you use "Democracy" in a sentence?

Examples of "Democracy" in a sentence: "under our democracy the people have some control over their lives by being able to select their own political leaders".

Is "Democracy" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Democracy" is a noun.

Is "Democracy" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Democracy" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Democracy"?

"Democracy" is pronounced /di-ˈmä-krə-sē/ and divided into syllables as de·moc·ra·cy.

What is the origin of the word "Democracy"?

"Democracy" comes from borrowed from Middle French democracie, democratie, borrowed from Late Latin dēmocratia, borrowed from Greek dēmokratía, from dēmo- demo- + -kratia -cracy. First known use: 15th century.

What is another word for "Democracy" meaning "government in which the supreme power is held by the people and used by them directly or indirectly through representation"?

When "Democracy" (noun) means government in which the supreme power is held by the people and used by them directly or indirectly through representation, synonyms include republic, self-government and self-rule.