n. pl. de·moc·ra·cies 1. Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives. 2. A political or social unit that has such a government. 3. The common people, considered as the primary source of political power. 4. Majority rule. 5. The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community. [French démocratie, from Late Latin dēmocratia, from Greek dēmokratiā : dēmos, people; see dā- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + -kratiā, -cracy.] |
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