democracy
democracy — noun
1. a system of running a country in which ordinary people choose their leaders by v
a system of running a country in which ordinary people choose their leaders by voting, and all citizens have equal rights and basic freedoms — for example, the right to speak freely and to gather in groups.
Brian believes that a healthy democracy depends on citizens who vote and stay informed.
democracy + depends on + [condition for success]
The country has slowly built a working democracy after decades of military rule.
build + a working democracy
In a democracy, elected leaders must answer to the people who put them in power.
Sayaka thinks that democracy gives ordinary citizens the power to change their government.
Democracy works best when the press is free and the courts are independent.
- representative government
more specific — refers only to systems where people elect representatives, excludes direct democracy
- self-government
broader and more philosophical; can refer to any group managing its own affairs
- republic
a form of democracy without a monarch; not all republics are full democracies
- dictatorship
a system where one person rules with total power, and citizens cannot vote or speak freely
- autocracy
a system where unlimited power rests with a single ruler
文法句型
democracy + verb
in a democracy
democracy + of + noun
用法筆記
Frequently used as an uncountable noun when referring to the concept in general, but countable when referring to a specific form of this system (e.g., 'a healthy democracy', 'many democracies around the world').
常見錯誤
2. a country whose government is based on the principle that the people elect their
a country whose government is based on the principle that the people elect their leaders and take part in important decisions — for example, a nation where citizens vote in regular elections and their votes truly affect how the country is run.
India has remained a stable democracy for more than seventy years.
remain + a + adj + democracy
After the civil war, the nation rebuilt itself as a young democracy with free elections.
young democracy
Adisa visited several European democracies to study how they run their voting systems.
Renata compared how new democracies in Africa handle fair elections and press freedom.
- democratic state
more formal, used in legal and political documents
- free nation
less precise, focuses on the idea of liberty rather than the electoral system
- dictatorship
a country ruled by a single person or small group with no free elections
文法句型
a + adj + democracy
democracy + verb
用法筆記
Typically modified by adjectives describing the age, stability, or quality of the democratic system (e.g., 'young democracy', 'stable democracy', 'flourishing democracy'). Often used in the plural form 'democracies' when discussing multiple countries.
常見錯誤
3. a way of running a group, organization, or institution so that every member has
a way of running a group, organization, or institution so that every member has an equal right to express opinions and help shape what gets decided — for example, a club where each member's vote on new rules carries the same weight.
The workers voted to turn their co-op into a democracy with one vote per person.
turn + [organization] + into a democracy
Talia praised the school's democracy, where students and teachers decide on rules together.
Some companies practice workplace democracy by letting staff vote on major business decisions.
Quan feels the university's internal democracy gives every student a real voice in policy changes.
Élise helped create a democracy within her volunteer group, letting all members share their ideas.
- participatory decision-making
more formal; emphasises the process of involvement rather than the system itself
- collective management
focuses on the group making decisions together, often used in business contexts
- top-down management
where decisions are made by leaders and passed down without input from members
- autocratic rule
where a single person or small group controls all decisions
文法句型
democracy + within + noun
internal democracy
workplace democracy
用法筆記
Often paired with modifiers like 'internal', 'workplace', 'industrial', or 'party' to specify which organization is being described. The noun can be countable ('a democracy') when referring to a specific system within one organization.