democracy

noun

di-ˈmä-krə-sē How to pronounce democracy (audio)
Definition of democracynext
as in republic
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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of democracy Public confidence in elections and secure and accessible voting are the bedrock of a healthy democracy. — Stephanie Leiser, The Conversation, 12 Aug. 2026 The Economic Community of West African States, for instance, was unable to prevent recent coups in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which violated the body’s protocol on democracy good governance. — Eghosa E. Osaghae, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2026 Indeed, Cheng was once a student leader in Taiwan’s Wild Lily democracy movement of the early 1990s, though her participation came as something of a shock to her parents. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 11 Aug. 2026 Then, the entire Soviet Union disintegrated, with all 15 republics breaking away, but in a peaceful process that Gorbachev hoped would lead to the creation of new democracies across Europe and Asia. — Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for democracy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for democracy
republic
Noun
  • From a young age, our children receive conflicting signals about the meaning of participating in our democratic republic.
    — David Neil, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Bessent described a two-pronged approach featuring financial pressure and a physical blockade of Islamic republic's ports.
    — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of republic

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demobs
democracy
democrat
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Cite this Entry

“Democracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/democracy. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on democracy

Nglish: Translation of democracy for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about democracy

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