representative

[ rep-ri-zen-tuh-tiv ]

noun

1. a person or thing that represents another or others.
2. an agent or deputy:

   a legal representative.

3. a person who represents a constituency or community in a legislative body, especially a member of the U.S. House of Representatives or a lower house in certain state legislatures.
4. a typical example or specimen of a group, quality, or kind.

adjective

1. serving to represent; representing.

   Synonyms: characteristic, typical, exemplary, symbolic

2. standing or acting for another or others.
3. made up of representatives:

   a representative assembly.

4. Government. of or relating to a system of governance by chosen representatives, usually elected from among a large group, as in representative democracy representative government
5. exemplifying a group or kind; typical:

   a representative selection of Elizabethan plays.

6. corresponding to or replacing some other species or the like, as in a different locality.
7. of, relating to, or characteristic of representationalism.
8. pertaining to or of the nature of a mental image or representation.

representative

/ ˌrɛprɪˈzɛntətɪv /

noun

1. a person or thing that represents another or others
2. a person who represents and tries to sell the products or services of a firm, esp a travelling salesman Often shortened torep
3. a typical example
4. a person representing a constituency in a deliberative, legislative, or executive body, esp ( capital ) a member of the House of Representatives (the lower house of Congress) See also House of Representatives
5. a rugby player, football player, etc, chosen to represent a province in interprovincial sports

adjective

1. serving to represent; symbolic
2. 1. exemplifying a class or kind; typical

      a representative example of the species

   2. containing or including examples of all the interests, types, etc, in a group

      a representative collection

3. acting as deputy or proxy for another or others
4. acting for or representing a constituency or the whole people in the process of government

   a representative council

5. of, characterized by, or relating to the political principle of representation of the people

   representative government

6. of or relating to a mental picture or representation

Derived Forms

• ˌrepreˈsentatively, adverb
• ˌrepreˈsentativeness, noun

Other Words From

• repre·senta·tive·ly adverb
• repre·senta·tive·ness noun
• nonrep·re·senta·tive noun adjective
• nonrep·re·senta·tive·ly adverb
• nonrep·re·senta·tive·ness noun
• over·repre·senta·tive adjective
• over·repre·senta·tive·ly adverb
• over·repre·senta·tive·ness noun
• unrep·re·senta·tive adjective
• unrep·re·senta·tive·ly adverb
• unrep·re·senta·tive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of representative¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English (adjective), from Medieval Latin repraesentātīvus, from repraesentāt(us) “made present” ( representation ) + -īvus -ive

Example Sentences

When she gets sworn in next month, she will become the first L.A. council member of Filipino heritage and District 14’s first female and first LGBTQ+ representative.

From Los Angeles Times

In response, Sweeney's representative told Variety: "How sad that a woman in the position to share her expertise and experience chooses instead to attack another woman."

From BBC

“I confess I didn’t know who he was until 20 minutes ago,” Representative Adam Smith, who serves as the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, told reporters on Wednesday.

From BBC

The president-elect announced his pick to head up the Department of Justice in a Truth Social post on Wednesday, and the bipartisan pushback against the widely disliked representative from Chipley was swift.

From Salon

According to court records, attorneys for Brown intend to continue the suit against Buck and are working to name a representative to continue it.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• agent
• commissioner
• counselor
• delegate
• deputy
• lawyer
• legislator
• member
• senator