What does representative mean?

Definitions for representative
ˌrɛp rɪˈzɛn tə tɪvrep·re·sen·ta·tive

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word representative.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. representativenoun

    a person who represents others

  2. spokesperson, interpreter, representative, voicenoun

    an advocate who represents someone else's policy or purpose

    "the meeting was attended by spokespersons for all the major organs of government"

  3. congressman, congresswoman, representativenoun

    a member of the United States House of Representatives

  4. example, illustration, instance, representativeadjective

    an item of information that is typical of a class or group

    "this patient provides a typical example of the syndrome"; "there is an example on page 10"

  5. representativeadjective

    serving to represent or typify

    "representative moviegoers"; "a representative modern play"

  6. representativeadjective

    standing for something else

    "the bald eagle is representative of the United States"

  7. representativeadjective

    being or characteristic of government by representation in which citizens exercise power through elected officers and representatives

    "representative government as defined by Abraham Lincoln is government of the people, by the people, for the people"

Wiktionary

  1. representativenoun

    One who may speak for another in a particular capacity, especially in negotiation.

    I will send a representative to work out the details of the contract.

  2. representativenoun

    A member of a legislative or governing body who represents a constituency.

    She served four terms as representative of her local at the national union convention.

  3. representativenoun

    One that is taken as typical of its class.

  4. representativenoun

    A member of the US House of Representatives.

    All representatives face re-election every two years.

  5. representativeadjective

    Typical; having the same properties of interest as a larger group.

  6. Etymology: From representatif.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Representativeadjective

    Etymology: representatif, Fr. from represent.

    They relieve themselves with this distinction, and yet own the legal sacrifices, though representative, to be proper and real. Francis Atterbury.

    This counsel of four hundred was chosen, one hundred out of each tribe, and seems to have been a body representative of the people; though the people collective reserved a share of power. Jonathan Swift.

  2. Representativenoun

    A statue of rumour whispering an idiot in the ear, who was the representative of credulity. Joseph Addison, Freeholder.

    I wish the welfare of my country; and my morals and politicks teach me to leave all that to be adjusted by our representatives above, and to divine providence. Edward Blount, to Pope.

    Difficulty must cumber this doctrine, which supposes that the perfections of God are the representatives to us, of whatever we perceive in the creatures. John Locke.

ChatGPT

  1. representative

    A representative is a person chosen or appointed to act, speak, or make decisions on behalf of a larger group or other person or entity. This can apply in a variety of contexts, including government officials elected to represent constituents, individuals representing companies in business transactions, or data samples that accurately reflect a larger dataset.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Representativeadjective

    fitted to represent; exhibiting a similitude

  2. Representativeadjective

    bearing the character or power of another; acting for another or others; as, a council representative of the people

  3. Representativeadjective

    conducted by persons chosen to represent, or act as deputies for, the people; as, a representative government

  4. Representativeadjective

    serving or fitted to present the full characters of the type of a group; typical; as, a representative genus in a family

  5. Representativeadjective

    similar in general appearance, structure, and habits, but living in different regions; -- said of certain species and varieties

  6. Representativeadjective

    giving, or existing as, a transcript of what was originally presentative knowledge; as, representative faculties; representative knowledge. See Presentative, 3 and Represent, 8

  7. Representativenoun

    one who, or that which, represents (anything); that which exhibits a likeness or similitude

  8. Representativenoun

    an agent, deputy, or substitute, who supplies the place of another, or others, being invested with his or their authority

  9. Representativenoun

    one who represents, or stands in the place of, another

  10. Representativenoun

    a member of the lower or popular house in a State legislature, or in the national Congress

  11. Representativenoun

    that which presents the full character of the type of a group

  12. Representativenoun

    a species or variety which, in any region, takes the place of a similar one in another region

  13. Etymology: [Cf. LL. repraesentativus.]

Editors Contribution

  1. representative

    A person elected to represent their electorate as a member of a form of unity government.

    The representative did have optimum health, human rights and shared prosperity for all as their priorities at all times.


    Submitted by MaryC on April 16, 2020  


  2. representative

    A person who represents.

    The local government representative was very helpful, kind and caring.


    Submitted by MaryC on March 14, 2020  

British National Corpus

  1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'representative' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #4088

  2. Written Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'representative' in Written Corpus Frequency: #4338

  3. Nouns Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'representative' in Nouns Frequency: #722

  4. Adjectives Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'representative' in Adjectives Frequency: #775

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

How to pronounce representative?

How to say representative in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of representative in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of representative in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of representative in a Sentence

  1. Louisa Wall:

    We have come a long way and for me it is about representative democracy. We reflect our larger New Zealand population.

  2. Najeeb Saeed:

    Since the occupation in 2003 we have not had any representative from Tikrit in the provincial council or parliament. Because Saddam was from Tikrit. They say in Baghdad we ruled Iraq for 35 years and it's enough.

  3. Urmila Seshagiri:

    These films... really allowed minority characters to be complex and multidimensional, they didn't have to be representative of one entire group of people. And these characters could be funny and they could be sexy, even while they were experiencing real problems or feeling real pain.

  4. Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams:

    I assure you that this incident is not representative of the majority of Phoenix police officers who serve this city.

  5. Bishop David Kendall:

    We are deeply grateful to all who prayed for Phyllis' safe return and praise God the family representative was able to secure her release.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

representative#1#2670#10000

Translations for representative

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"representative." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 6 Dec. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/representative>.

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    A eminent
    B unsealed
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