Definition

1. Noun:
   • A system of government: A political system in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation, typically involving periodic free elections.
   • A state or organization with such a system: A country, state, or organization that is governed by the principle of democracy.
   • The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community: The practice or ideals of equality and rights.

Usage

• As a form of government: Used to describe a political system.
  • The country transitioned from a monarchy to a democracy.
• As a principle or ideal: Used to refer to the concept itself.
  • They fought for democracy and freedom.
• Referring to a democratic country: Used as a countable noun.
  • Several new democracies emerged in the 1990s.

Examples

• Noun:
  • Ancient Athens is often considered the birthplace of democracy.
  • A healthy democracy depends on an informed citizenry.
  • The organization strives to operate as an internal democracy.

Advanced Usage

• "Representative democracy": A form of democracy in which citizens elect officials to represent them and make political decisions.
  • Most modern nations are representative democracies.
• "Direct democracy": A form of democracy in which citizens vote directly on policy initiatives without elected representatives as intermediaries.
  • Some local issues are decided by direct democracy, such as town hall votes.
• "Social democracy": A political ideology that supports economic and social interventions to promote social justice within the framework of a capitalist economy and a democratic polity.
  • The party's platform is based on the principles of social democracy.

Variants and Related Words

• Democrat (n): A person who believes in or supports democracy. (Also, a member of a specific political party, e.g., the Democratic Party in the US).
  • He was a true democrat who valued every citizen's voice.
• Democratic (adj): Pertaining to or characterized by democracy; based on the principles of democracy.
  • The process was democratic, allowing all members to vote.
• Democratize (v): To make something accessible to everyone; to introduce a democratic system.
  • The internet helped democratize access to information.

Synonyms

• Self-government: Government of a country by its own people.
• Republic: A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives.
• Popular sovereignty: The principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people.

Related Phrases

• "The spread of democracy": The expansion of democratic systems to more countries.
  • The 20th century saw the spread of democracy across the globe.
• "Pillars of democracy": Fundamental principles that support a democratic system, such as free elections, rule of law, and civil liberties.
  • A free press is one of the essential pillars of democracy.

Idioms

• "The will of the people": The desires and choices of the majority in a democracy. (This phrase encapsulates a core democratic principle).
  • The new law was passed, reflecting the will of the people.

Noun

1. the doctrine that the numerical majority of an organized group can make decisions binding on the whole group
2. a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them
3. the political orientation of those who favor government by the people or by their elected representatives