Democratic
What it means
Allowing people a fair and meaningful voice in collective decisions.
Reach for it when praising a process where participation can influence the outcome
The cooperative used a democratic vote to choose its new chair.
Words to choose between 6
| warm | |
|---|---|
| professional |
|
| formal |
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warm
Fits when removing barriers to involvement deserves emphasis
Careful Inclusion may widen attendance without sharing authority.
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professional
consultative
Fits when leaders seek views before deciding
Careful Consultation leaves final power with the consulter.
-
professional
elected
Fits when selection by vote is the verifiable fact
Careful An elected body can still lack transparency or meaningful competition.
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professional
Fits when direct involvement matters
Careful Participation can be symbolic when people cannot influence the outcome.
-
professional
representative
Fits when chosen delegates act for a group
Careful Representation can distance people from decisions.
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formal
Fits when equal status is the central principle
Careful Egalitarian describes equality, not a decision method.
Opposites 4
- authoritarian
- autocratic
- dictatorial
- unelected
Common phrases 4
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democratic process
A transparent count strengthened trust in the democratic process.
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democratic decision
The schedule was a democratic decision, though not everyone's first choice.
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democratic vote
A democratic vote gave each member one ballot.
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more democratic
Publishing the agenda early made the meeting more democratic.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Neskaya, California accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated