democracies

Noun

democracy (countable and uncountable, plural democracies)

1. (uncountable) Rule by the people, especially as a form of government, such as
   • And the essential value and power of Democracy consists in this,—that it combines, as far as possible, power and organization ; THE SPIRIT, MANHOOD, is at one with THE BODY, ORGANIZATION. [....] Democracy is Government by the People.1866, J. Arthur Partridge, On Democracy, Trübner & Co., page 2
2. A form of government where the people elect representatives who propose and approve laws and administer the government on their behalf (representative democracy).
3. A form of government where the people vote directly on laws and government decisions (direct democracy).
4. (countable) A government under the direct or representative rule of the people of its jurisdiction.
   • Of course, the Russians think it is something else because they say the Russians have a democracy and it is plain that their government is not what the Americans regard as a democracy.1947 March 16, Edwin L. James, “General Marshall Raises the Ideological Issue”, in The New York Times
5. (countable) A state with a democratic system of government.
   • Some countries which were originally monarchies, like the UK, have maintained their status as monarchies whilst also becoming democracies in the modern era; others, like France, completely disposed of their monarchies when they became democracies.
6. (uncountable) Belief in political freedom and equality; the "spirit of democracy".
   • As states of the human spirit democracy, righteousness, and faith have much in common and may be cultivated by the same means...1918, Charles Horton Cooley, “A Primary Culture for Democracy”, in Publications of the American Sociological Society 13, page 8

See all 7 meanings of democracy