/ dɪˈmɒkrəsi; NAmE -ˈmɑːk-/ noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
[ U ] a system of government in which all the people of a country can vote to elect their representatives :
parliamentary democracy
the principles of democracy
2.
[ C ] a country which has this system of government :
Western democracies
I thought we were supposed to be living in a democracy.
3.
[ U ] fair and equal treatment of everyone in an organization, etc., and their right to take part in making decisions :
the fight for justice and democracy
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: from French démocratie , via late Latin from Greek dēmokratia , from dēmos the people + -kratia power, rule.