Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Of, characterized by, or advocating democracy.
  • adjective Of or for the people in general; popular.
  • adjective Believing in or practicing social equality.
  • adjective Of, relating to, or characteristic of the Democratic Party.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Pertaining to or characteristic of democracy as a principle of government.
  • [cap. or lowercase] In U.S. politics, of, pertaining to, or characteristic of the Democratic party; being a supporter of the Democratic party: as, a Democratic newspaper; the Democratic platform; a Democratic convention.
  • Pertaining to or characteristic of democracy as a social principle; maintaining or manifesting equal natural rights and privileges; hence, free from forced inequality or servility; being on a common level: opposed to aristocratic: as, a democratic community or assemblage; democratic manners.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Pertaining to democracy; favoring democracy, or constructed upon the principle of government by the people.
  • adjective belonging to or relating to the Democratic party, the political party so called.
  • adjective Befitting the common people; -- opposed to aristocratic.
  • adjective the name of one of the chief political parties in the United States.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Pertaining to democracy; favoring democracy, or constructed upon the principle of government by the people.
  • adjective US Relating to a political party so called; usually, Democratic.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective belong to or relating to the Democratic Party
  • adjective characterized by or advocating or based upon the principles of democracy or social equality
  • adjective representing or appealing to or adapted for the benefit of the people at large

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

democrat +‎ -ic; see democracy; also influenced indirectly by Middle French democratique and directly by Ancient Greek δημοκρᾰτικός (demokratikos, "of or for democracy", "favoring or suited for democracy")

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Examples

  • Most of us used to believe in the Democratic process, however, Nancy Pelosi, who "took impeachment off the table", cheated the democratic process and instead bowed to King Bush.

    At Last Liberals Get Angry 2009

  • There are no sure bets in politics, and money alone is not the key barometer to electability, just ask Democratic moneybags, and key Clinton Confidant Terry McAuliffe who ran and lost the democratic primary in Virginia for Governor.

    Interview with Mark Foley Peter Schorsch 2009

  • So let's see, all the Dixiecrats that left the Democratic party due to blacks and civil rights to become republicans, now will return to the democratic party of abortion and gay rights.

    Will Dem House Takeover Spark Future GOP Defections? 2009

  • In this Democratic version of an imperfect tie, both candidates would appeal to an aspect of the democratic principle, and both would have a strong case.

    What a Long, Strange Race It's Been James W. Ceaser 2008

  • Lieberman says he has his own reasons for refusing to give up the Senate bid: if he quit now, his successor would be picked by the state's Democratic committee, rather than by the voters, thereby subverting the democratic process.

    Missouri Grieves For A Friend 2008

  • I hope Howard Dean will let Crist and his right wing legislature know, in no uncertain terms, that they will not have any effect upon Democratic policy, unless they choose to pay for an re-run the democratic primary election.

    DNC and Howard Dean Should Tell Florida Republicans and Gov Crist Where to Go 2008

  • I hope Howard Dean will let Crist and his right wing legislature know, in no uncertain terms, that they will not have any effect upon Democratic policy, unless they choose to pay for an re-run the democratic primary election.

    Printing: DNC and Howard Dean Should Tell Florida Republicans and Gov Crist Where to Go 2008

  • Democratic national convention: the Chamber sent its government relations employees to the democratic and republican national conventions - here's what ...

    Dimwitted Political Strategy 2008

  • But the prolonged debate offers a real opportunity not only for Democratic electoral victory in the fall, but for democratic politics beyond.

    Dick Flacks: The Primary Is A Great Democratic Opportunity 2008

  • LONG: There is a big Democratic Party convention this weekend in Florida, but none of the major democratic presidential candidates are showing up.

    CNN Transcript Oct 27, 2007 2007

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