Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Typical of a class or group: Serving as a characteristic or accurate example of something larger.
   • Acting or speaking for others: Having the function of representing a person, group, or organization.
   • Relating to political representation: Characteristic of a system where citizens govern through elected officials.

2. Noun:

   • A person who acts or speaks for others: An individual chosen or appointed to act and make decisions on behalf of another person or a group.
   • A typical example: An item or instance that accurately depicts the qualities of a broader category.
   • A member of a legislative body: Specifically, an elected member of a house of representatives in a government.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The survey used a representative sample of the population.
  • She is the representative voice of the community on the council.
  • The country has a representative democracy.

• Noun:

  • He works as a sales representative for a tech company.
  • This fossil is a good representative of the species from that era.
  • The Representative from our district will vote on the bill.

Advanced Usage

• "to be representative of": To serve as a typical or symbolic example of something.

  • This painting is representative of the artist's early work.

• "in a representative capacity": Acting with the official authority to represent someone else.

  • The lawyer attended the meeting in a representative capacity for her client.

Variants and Related Words

• Representation (n): The act of representing or the state of being represented.

  • The painting is a representation of a historical event.

• Represent (v): To act or speak officially for someone; to constitute a symbol or example of something.

  • She will represent the company at the conference.

• Unrepresentative (adj): Not typical or characteristic of a larger group.

  • The small sample was unrepresentative of national opinion.

Synonyms

• Typical: Exhibiting the qualities that identify a category.
• Characteristic: Typical of a particular person, place, or thing.
• Delegate: A person sent or authorized to represent others.
• Exemplary: Serving as a desirable model; very good.

Related Phrases

• House of Representatives: The lower house of the United States Congress or of many state legislatures.

  • She was elected to the House of Representatives.

• Legal representative: A person authorized to act on behalf of another in legal matters.

  • The executor of the will is the legal representative of the estate.

Idioms

• A cross-section / representative sample: A small group that accurately reflects the characteristics of a larger population.
  • The study interviewed a representative sample of voters from all regions.

Adjective

1. being or characteristic of government by representation in which citizens exercise power through elected officers and representatives
   • representative government as defined by Abraham Lincoln is government of the people, by the people, for the people
2. standing for something else
   • the bald eagle is representative of the United States
3. serving to represent or typify
   • representative moviegoers
   • a representative modern play

Noun

1. an item of information that is typical of a class or group
   • this patient provides a typical example of the syndrome
   • there is an example on page 10
2. a member of the United States House of Representatives
3. an advocate who represents someone else's policy or purpose
   • the meeting was attended by spokespersons for all the major organs of government
4. a person who represents others