democracy
UK[dɪˈmɒkrəsi]US[dɪˈmɑːkrəsi]
n
A system of government in which the people hold the ultimate power, typically exercised through elected representatives.
n
A country or organization governed by such a system.
n
The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community.
Morpheme Breakdown
demo
cracy
demo
people
cracy
rule, power
Etymology
The word "democracy" is a direct borrowing from the French démocratie, which itself originates from the late Latin dēmocratia. This Latin term was adapted from the ancient Greek dēmokratia, a compound of dēmos (the common people, the citizen body of a city-state) and -kratia (power, rule, strength). In its original Athenian context, it described a specific political system where decision-making power was held by the assembly of eligible citizens, distinct from rule by a few (aristocracy) or by one (monarchy). Over centuries, the term evolved from this literal "rule by the people" to encompass the broader, more abstract modern concepts of representative government, political equality, and associated social ideals.
Analysis
Structure: demo (people) + cracy (rule, power)
- demo: From Greek dēmos, meaning "the common people, citizenry." It functions as the base, specifying the subject of the rule.
- cracy: From Greek -kratia, meaning "power, rule, government." It functions as the suffix, specifying the action or system applied to the base.
Examples
Ancient Athens is often called the cradle of democracy.
The country transitioned from a monarchy to a democracy after the revolution.
There are ongoing debates about the health of democracy in the digital age.