noun · neutral

democracy

UK/dɪˈmɒkrəsi/US/dɪˈmɑːkrəsi/de·MO·cra·cy

Band 4-5speakingtask2

a system of government in which people choose leaders by voting or participate in decision-making

Examples

Many activists say a free press is essential for a healthy democracy.

Some countries have a parliamentary democracy while others are presidential.

Young people are often the most enthusiastic supporters of democracy.

Band 8 sentence

Transitioning to a pluralistic democracy requires not just periodic elections but also independent institutions and a genuinely free press.

Collocations

  • representative democracy
  • strengthen democracy
  • democratic institutions

Word family

democratic adjectivedemocratize verbdemocratization noun

Common mistakes

a democracy countrya democratic country

many democracymany democracies

Say it for a higher band

5rule6system of government7+democracy

Synonyms

republic

self-government

Easily confused

republic

The country became a republic after the revolution.

democratic

She supports democratic reforms to increase transparency.

Related words

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In Society & Government

Learn it with its set