democratic

comparative more democratic · superlative most democratic · alternative Democratic · alternative democratick

1. Pertaining to democracy; constructed upon or in line with the principle of government chosen by the people.

   The United States is a democratic country, as the citizens are allowed to choose leaders to represent their interests.

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   [S]ome firie ſpirited men in the Miniſterie, got ſuch a guiding of the people at that time of confuſion, as finding the guſte of gouernment ſweete, they begouth to fantaſie to themſelues, a Democratick forme of gouernment: […] and after vſurping the libertie of the time in my long minoritie, ſetled themſelues ſo faſt vpon that imagined Democracie, as they fed themſelues with the hope to become Trbuni plebis: and ſo in a populare gouernment by leading the people by the noſe, to beare the ſway of all the rule.

   1599, [James IV of Scotland (later also James I of England)], “Of a Kings Dvtie in His Office. The Second Booke.”, in ΒΑΣΙΛΙΚΟΝ ΔΩΡΟΝ [BASILIKON DŌRON]. Or His Maiesties Instrvctions to His Dearest Sonne, Henry the Prince, London: […] Felix Kyngston, for Iohn Norton, […], published 1603, →OCLC, pages 39–40

   [W]hich government in its due conſtitution no Chriſtian or reformed Church, (not wholly under a democratick or popular ſpirit) yea no one eminent reformed Divine but did highly approve and deſire the happineſs to enjoy, as hath been made evident by their writings.

   1658, John Gauden, Funerals Made Cordials: In a Sermon Prepared and (in Part) Preached at the Solemn Interment of the Corps of the Right Honorable Robert Rich, Heire Apparent to the Earldom of Warwick. […], London: […] T. C. for Andrew Crook, […], →OCLC, page 82

   Others avouch plainly the Democratick Principles, That Government riſes from the People's Conſent, and is radically founded in them; […]

   1668, Abraham Philotheus [pseudonym], Anarchie Reviving, or, The Good Old Cause on the Anvile. […], London: [s.n.], →OCLC, page 2

   There, fann’d by me, lewd Faction’s quick’ning flame / Inſpires my duteous Children to defame / Thoſe Laws of Freedom which ſo long have ſtood, / Fix’d in the cement of Britannia’s blood. / There, my ſubverting Delegates diſplay / The madding pride of Democratic ſway.

   1777 (erroneously indicated as 1677), [William Combe], “Additions to the Diaboliad, a Poem”, in The Diaboliad, a Poem Dedicated to the Worst Man in His Majesty’s Dominions, 2nd edition, London: […] G. Kearsly, […], →OCLC, page 13

   The other point of difference is, the greater number of citizens and extent of territory which may be brought within the compaſs of republican, than of democratic government; and it is this circumſtance principally which renders factious combinations leſs to be dreaded in the former, than in the latter.

   1788, Publius [pseudonym; James Madison], “Number X. The Same Subject Continued [The Utility of the Union as a Safeguard against Domestic Faction and Insurrection].”, in The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution, […] , volume I, New York, N.Y.: […] J. and A. M‘Lean, […], →OCLC, page 60

   Synonyms: democratical · Antonyms: nondemocratic, undemocratic

2. Exhibiting social equality; egalitarian.

   "Oh, I hold with the framers of the Constitution, that all men are created free and equal; likewise, all boys and girls," said democratic Kitty; […]

   1867 February, the author of “Watching and Waiting”, “Pauline”, in T[imothy] S[hay] Arthur, Virginia F[rancis] Townsend, editors, Arthur’s Home Magazine, volume XXIX, Philadelphia, Penn.: T. S. Arthur & Co., →OCLC, chapter III (Pauline’s First Experience in Boarding ’Round), page 109, column 1

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   Carried somehow, somewhither, for some reason, on these surging floods, were these travelers, […] Even such a boat as the Mount Vernon offered a total deck space so cramped as to leave secrecy or privacy well out of the question, even had the motley and democratic assemblage of passengers been disposed to accord either.

   1910, Emerson Hough, “The Gateway, and Some Who Passed”, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC, page 29

   Hunting in the year 1000 was still a democratic pastime. Every free-born Anglo-Saxon had the right to enter the forest and bring home game for the pot.

   1999, Robert Lacey, Danny Danziger, The Year 1000: What life was like at the turn of The First Millennium, London: Abacus, published 2000, page 143

   Antonyms: nondemocratic, undemocratic

3. USgovernmentAlternative letter-case form of Democratic (“of, pertaining to, or supporting the Democratic Party”).

   Mount Vernon is run by a strong democratic party organization.

plural democratics · alternative democratick

1. datedin pluralSynonym of democrat (“a supporter of democracy; an advocate of democratic politics (originally (historical) as opposed to the aristocrats in Revolutionary France)”).

   For that equality among the multitude which democratics explore, is not only just among those of a similar rank but is advantageous.

   1811, Aristotle, “The Politics. Book V. Chapter VIII.”, in Thomas Taylor, transl., The Great, and Eudemian, Ethics, the Politics, and Economics, of Aristotle. […], London: […] Robert Wilks, […], →OCLC, page 412

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   This kingly government (as some call it) is a thing that our democraticks cannot brook: we are an undone people if we do not down with that.

   1692, Gershom Bulkeley, “Will and Doom, or The Miseries of Connecticut by and under an Usurped and Arbitrary Power. […]”, in Collections of the Connecticut Historical Society, volume III, Hartford, Conn.: […] [Connecticut Historical] Society, published 1895, →OCLC, page 195

   […] [Thomas] Fairfax was made general of all the forces both in England and Ireland; and Rainsbrough [i.e., Thomas Rainsborough], a leveller, and a violent head of the democraticks, high-admiral.

   1760, Delahay Gordon, “The Life and Death of King Charles the First”, in A General History of the Lives, Trials, and Executions of All the Royal and Noble Personages, that have Suffered in Great-Britain and Ireland for High Treason, or Other Crimes, from the Accession of Henry VIII. to the Throne of England, down to the Present Time; […], volume III, London: […] J. Burd, […], page 440

   Several circumſtances have concurred to confirm the belief that this wretched lunatick was the identical Marquis de Brunoy, who had been buried in the gloom of a priſon for nine years, whilſt the world thought him dead. The mad democraticks began to ſpread reports that the Count de Provence was privy to this tranſaction; and that it was this Prince who had obtained the Lettre de Cachet, by virtue of which this wretched man had been ſo long deprived of the light of heaven.

   1789 October 10, “Paris”, in I[ohann] W[ilhelm] von Archenholz, editor, The British Mercury, or Annals of History, Politics, Manners, Literature, Arts, etc. of the British Empire, volume XI, number 41, Hamburg: […] B. C. Hoffman, →OCLC, page 39

   He [Lysander] now destroyed the democratics and popular constitutions in all the Greek cities which had been subject to Athens, placing a Lacedæmonian in each as harmost or governor, with a council of ten archons under him, composed of men selected from the political clubs which he had established.

   1881, Plutarch, “Life of Lysander”, in Aubrey Stewart, George Long, transl., Plutarch’s Lives. […], volume II, London: George Bell and Sons, […], →OCLC, page 296

   Synonyms: democratical, democratist, democrat

1. USnot comparablegovernmentOf, pertaining to, or supporting the Democratic Party of the United States.

   The most recent Democratic president of the United States is Joe Biden.

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   The vote was 54-46. The vote was mostly along party lines though Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania joined Republicans in supporting Bondi.

   2025 February 4, Shania Shelton and Morgan Rimmer, “Senate votes to confirm Pam Bondi as attorney general”, in CNN

2. not comparablerareAlternative letter-case form of democratic (“pertaining to democracy”).