Democracy is a system of government in which people choose their rulers by voting for them in elections.
...the spread of democracy in Eastern Europe.
...the pro-democracy movement.
Synonyms: self-government, republic, commonwealth, autonomy More Synonyms of democracy
2. countable noun
A democracy is a country in which the people choose their government by voting for it.
The new democracies face tough challenges.
3. uncountable noun
Democracy is a system of running organizations, businesses, and groups in which each member is entitled to vote and take part in decisions.
...the union's emphasis on industrial democracy.
democracy in British English
(dɪˈmɒkrəsɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-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 ordinary 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
democracy in American English
(dɪˈmɑkrəsi)
nounWord forms: pluraldeˈmocracies
1.
government in which the people hold the ruling power either directly or through elected representatives; rule by the ruled
2.
a country, state, etc. with such government
3.
majority rule
4.
the principle of equality of rights, opportunity, and treatment, or the practice of this principle
5.
the common people, esp. as the wielders of political power
Word origin
Fr démocratie < ML democratia < Gr dēmokratia < dēmos, the people (< IE *damos, a division of the people < base *da-, to cut, divide > tide1) + kratein, to rule < kratos, strength: see hard
COBUILD Collocations
democracy
constitutional democracy
defend democracy
direct democracy
embrace democracy
promote democracy
restore democracy
stable democracy
true democracy
undermine democracy
Examples of 'democracy' in a sentence
democracy
Without the strongest liberal democracy taking the lead?
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
This is a party that has abandoned social democracy for socialism.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The populist uprising sweeping through liberal democracies is not driven by radicalism but by a desire for reassurance.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
IT'S good for democracy that more people now think politicians are doing their best for the country than did two years ago.
The Sun (2016)
That's what freedom and democracy are all about.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In the Eighties it was social democracy.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I want to take back control of our democracy and our country.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Russia's diplomatic aims have been triumphantly served in 2016 by a lack of resolution on the part of western democracies.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I'm talking about a belief in equality, democracy and the democratic process.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
British management and unions will alike scorn " industrial democracy".
Hirst, Paul After Thatcher (1989)
That is the way the great chaotic force of democracy works.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
There are merely competing ideas about how best to get good government in a democracy.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
What is the price of freedom and democracy?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We hope the election will go well and we will have democracy and people can get jobs.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It is only our particular system of representative democracy that protects us from ourselves.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They had tried to take official hypocrisy about democracy at face value.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Only afterwards did it try to suggest that it was a war to spread democracy.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
This is a key part of our democracy.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This suggests a more positive view of social democracy.
Sanderson, Stephen K. Macrosociology: An Introduction to Human Societies (1995)
The democracy movement was at its height.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The road from dictatorship to democracy and constitutional government is seldom smooth.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We are just young people who want democracy.
The Sun (2011)
But there may be economic wisdom buried in the messy system of democracy too.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Is this the new face of democracy?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The freedom to protest is a vital part of our democracy.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
But social democracy without money depends on reform.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The main tool by which we can promote democracy and other freedoms is by our own conduct and example.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The book is not for the most part concerned with the mechanics of industrial democracy but with its political justification.
Low, Nicholas Politics, Planning and the State (1990)
What a catastrophe for liberal democracy.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The processes of entry and exit should be arranged to give maximum support to the forces for democracy in the countries concerned.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But there will be no democracy in the country called Europe.
The Sun (2009)
It has the potential to enrich society, empower individuals and spread democracy.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The spark which led to the final destruction of the country 's fragile democracy was linked to football.
John Foot Calcio: A History of Italian Football (2006)
And actions which would not otherwise constitute war crimes did not become so because they were taken pursuant to policies abhorrent to western liberal democracies.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Quotations
To give victory to the right, not bloody bullets, but peaceful ballots only, are necessaryAbraham Lincolnspeech
My notion of democracy is that under it the weakest should have the same opportunity as the strongestGandhiNon-Violence in Peace and War
Democracy ... is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequals alikePlatoThe Republic
Man's capacity for justice makes democracy possible; but man's inclination to injustice makes democracy necessaryReinhold NiebuhrThe Children of Light and the Children of Darkness
After each war there is a little less democracy to saveBrooks AtkinsonOnce Around the Sun
Democracy is the superior form of government, because it is based on a respect for man as a reasonable beingJohn F. KennedyWhy England Slept
Democracy means government by discussion, but it is only effective if you can stop people talkingClement AtleeAnatomy of Britain
Democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried from time totimeWinston Churchillspeech
Democracy is the name we give the people whenever we need themRobert, Marquis de Flers and Arman de CaillavetL'habit vert
Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt fewGeorge Bernard ShawMan and Superman
All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracyAlfred Emanuel Smith
government of the people, by the people, and for the peopleAbraham LincolnGettysburg Address
Democratic nations care but little for what has been, but they are haunted by visions of what will beAlexis de TocquevilleDemocracy in America
Two Cheers for Democracy: one because it admits variety and two because it permits criticism. Two cheers are quite enough: there is no occasion to give threeE.M. ForsterTwo Cheers for Democracy
Word lists with
democracy
government
In other languages
democracy
British English: democracy /dɪˈmɒkrəsɪ/ NOUN
Democracy is a political system in which people choose their government by voting for them in elections.
...the spread of democracy in the region.
American English: democracy
Arabic: دِيـمُقْرَاطِيَّة
Brazilian Portuguese: democracia
Chinese: 民主
Croatian: demokracija
Czech: demokracie
Danish: demokrati
Dutch: democratie
European Spanish: democracia
Finnish: demokratia
French: démocratie
German: Demokratie
Greek: δημοκρατία
Italian: democrazia
Japanese: 民主主義
Korean: 민주주의
Norwegian: demokrati
Polish: demokracja
European Portuguese: democracia
Romanian: democrație
Russian: демократия
Latin American Spanish: democracia
Swedish: demokrati
Thai: ประชาธิปไตย
Turkish: demokrasi
Ukrainian: демократія
Vietnamese: sự dân chủ
All related terms of 'democracy'
pure democracy
a form of democracy in which the laws and policies are made directly by the citizens rather than by their representatives
true democracy
A democracy is a country in which the people choose their government by voting for it.
defend democracy
Democracy is a system of government in which people choose their rulers by voting for them in elections .
direct democracy
Democracy is a system of government in which people choose their rulers by voting for them in elections .
embrace democracy
Democracy is a system of government in which people choose their rulers by voting for them in elections .
liberal democracy
a democracy based on the recognition of individual rights and freedoms , in which decisions from direct or representative processes prevail in many policy areas
people's democracy
(in Communist ideology ) a country or form of government in transition from bourgeois democracy to socialism . In this stage there is more than one class, the largest being the proletariat , led by the Communist Party, which is therefore the dominant power
promote democracy
Democracy is a system of government in which people choose their rulers by voting for them in elections .
restore democracy
Democracy is a system of government in which people choose their rulers by voting for them in elections.
social democracy
Social democracy is a political system according to which social justice and equality can be achieved within the framework of a market economy .
stable democracy
A democracy is a country in which the people choose their government by voting for it.
Christian Democracy
the beliefs , principles, practices, or programme of a Christian Democratic party
industrial democracy
control of an organization by the people who work for it, esp by workers holding positions on its board of directors
undermine democracy
Democracy is a system of government in which people choose their rulers by voting for them in elections .
constitutional democracy
A democracy is a country in which the people choose their government by voting for it.
parliamentary democracy
a system of government in which people elect representatives to a parliament to make laws, for example Canada and the UK
participatory democracy
individual participation by citizens in political decisions and policies that affect their lives, esp. directly rather than through elected representatives
Chinese translation of 'democracy'
democracy
(dɪˈmɔkrəsɪ)
n
(u) (= system) 民主 (mínzhǔ)
(c) (= country) 民主国(國) (mínzhǔ guó) (个(個), gè)
(noun)
Definition
a system of government or organization in which the citizens or members choose leaders or make other important decisions by voting
the spread of democracy around the world
Synonyms
self-government
a campaign for more self-government
republic
commonwealth
autonomy
They stepped up their demands for local autonomy.
representative government
constitutional government
government by the people
elective government
Quotations
To give victory to the right, not bloody bullets, but peaceful ballots only, are necessary [Abraham Lincoln – speech]My notion of democracy is that under it the weakest should have the same opportunity as the strongest [Gandhi – Non-Violence in Peace and War]Democracy ... is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequals alike [Plato – The Republic]Man's capacity for justice makes democracy possible; but man's inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary [Reinhold Niebuhr – The Children of Light and the Children of Darkness]After each war there is a little less democracy to save [Brooks Atkinson – Once Around the Sun]Democracy is the superior form of government, because it is based on a respect for man as a reasonable being [John F. Kennedy – Why England Slept]Democracy means government by discussion, but it is only effective if you can stop people talking [Clement Atlee – Anatomy of Britain]Democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time [Winston Churchill – speech]Democracy is the name we give the people whenever we need them [Robert, Marquis de Flers and Arman de Caillavet – L'habit vert]Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few [George Bernard Shaw – Man and Superman]All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy [Alfred Emanuel Smith]government of the people, by the people, and for the people [Abraham Lincoln – Gettysburg Address]Democratic nations care but little for what has been, but they are haunted by visions of what will be [Alexis de Tocqueville – Democracy in America]Two Cheers for Democracy: one because it admits variety and two because it permits criticism. Two cheers are quite enough: there is no occasion to give three [E.M. Forster – Two Cheers for Democracy]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of autonomy
Definition
freedom to determine one's own actions and behaviour