democracy

[dih-mok-ruh-see] /dɪˈmɒk rə si/
noun, plural democracies.
1.
government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.
2.
a state having such a form of government:
The United States and Canada are democracies.
3.
a state of society characterized by formal equality of rights and privileges.
4.
political or social equality; democratic spirit.
5.
the common people of a community as distinguished from any privileged class; the common people with respect to their political power.
Origin
1525-35; < Middle French démocratie < Late Latin dēmocratia < Greek dēmokratía popular government, equivalent to dēmo- demo- + -kratia -cracy
Related forms
antidemocracy, noun, plural antidemocracies, adjective
nondemocracy, noun, plural nondemocracies.
predemocracy, noun, plural predemocracies.
prodemocracy, adjective
Examples from the web for democracy
  • Its system of democracy ensures that people have a direct say in the country's affairs.
  • If our country is to be a democracy, as opposed to a corporate state, its people must be free.
  • When you let your intelligence convince people don't know what's best for them then you are anti democracy.
  • If any votes aren't counted, the will of the people is not realized and our democracy is diminished.
  • In a democracy, nothing is supposed to matter more than the will of the people.
  • The internet is inherently a force for democracy.
  • The kingdom ended its absolute monarchy in 1932, and today it is a democracy with elected leaders and courts of law.
  • Far more important than wealth to well-being, they say, is democracy.
  • The Web is a haven of messy democracy.
  • Nowadays a lot of aid money and diplomatic support are tied to progress in governance and democracy.
British Dictionary definitions for democracy

democracy

/dɪˈmɒkrəsɪ/
noun (pl) -cies
1.
government by the people or their elected representatives
2.
a political or social unit governed ultimately by all its members
3.
the practice or spirit of social equality
4.
a social condition of classlessness and equality
5.
the common people, esp as a political force
Word Origin
C16: from French démocratie, from Late Latin dēmocratia, from Greek dēmokratia government by the people; see demo-, -cracy
Word Origin and History for democracy
n.

1570s, from Middle French démocratie (14c.), from Medieval Latin democratia (13c.), from Greek demokratia "popular government," from demos "common people," originally "district" (see demotic), + kratos "rule, strength" (see -cracy).

Democracy implies that the man must take the responsibility for choosing his rulers and representatives, and for the maintenance of his own 'rights' against the possible and probable encroachments of the government which he has sanctioned to act for him in public matters. [Ezra Pound, "ABC of Economics," 1933]

democracy in Culture

democracy definition


A system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives.

Note: Democratic institutions, such as parliaments, may exist in a monarchy. Such constitutional monarchies as Britain, Canada, and Sweden are generally counted as democracies in practice.