French word

démocratie

Pronunciation

IPA/demokʁasi/

Meaning

  • feminine noundemocracy

Example

La démocratie permet aux citoyens de participer aux décisions.

Democracy allows citizens to participate in decision-making.

Illustration for démocratie (democracy)

More examples

En démocratie, les citoyens votent librement.

In a democracy, citizens vote freely.

Core concept

Citizens shape public decisions by voting themselves or choosing people to act on their behalf.

Common phrases

  • les principes de la démocratie

    the principles of democracy

  • la démocratie libérale

    liberal democracy

  • promouvoir la démocratie

    promote democracy

Similar words

république: A form of government with a nonhereditary head chosen through elections or by a legislature.
gouvernement: The body and leaders that carry out a state's administration.
élection: The process of voting to select public officials or representatives.
dictature: Rule by one person or a small group, with restricted freedoms and limited elections.

Definition in French

Système politique dans lequel le pouvoir appartient au peuple, qui choisit ses représentants ou prend parfois des décisions directement par le vote.

Word origin

French démocratie comes from Greek dēmokratía, formed from dēmos meaning 'people' and krátos meaning 'power' or 'rule'.

Usage tips

  • Démocratie is a feminine noun, so standard forms include la démocratie and une démocratie.

Opposites

  • dictaturedictatorshipnoun
  • autoritarismeauthoritarianismnoun

Related words

Word lists with this word