democracygovernment by the people: The United States is a democracy. Not to be confused with:anarchy ? the absence of laws or government: The fall of the empire was followed by chaos and anarchy.aristocracy ? rule by elite or privileged upper class: The governing body was composed of the country?s most powerful aristocracy.oligarchy ? government by the few: The citizens have no voice in an oligarchy. plutocracy ? government in which the wealthy class rules: In a plutocracy, there is little regard for the poor.Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embreede·moc·ra·cy (d?-m?k?r?-s?)n. pl. de·moc·ra·cies 1. Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives.2. A political or social unit that has such a government.3. The common people, considered as the primary source of political power.4. Majority rule.5. The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community.[French démocratie, from Late Latin d?mocratia, from Greek d?mokrati? : d?mos, people; see d?- in Indo-European roots + -krati?, -cracy.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.democracy (d??m?kr?s?) n, pl -cies1. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) government by the people or their elected representatives2. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) a political or social unit governed ultimately by all its members3. (Sociology) the practice or spirit of social equality4. (Sociology) a social condition of classlessness and equality5. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) the common people, esp as a political force[C16: from French démocratie, from Late Latin d?mocratia, from Greek d?mokratia government by the people; see demo-, -cracy]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014de?moc?ra?cy (d??m?k r? si) n., pl. -cies. 1. government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system. 2. a state having such a form of government. 3. a state of society characterized by formal equality of rights and privileges. 4. political or social equality; democratic spirit. 5. the common people, esp. with respect to their political power. [1525?35;