demotic
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to the ordinary, everyday, current form of a language; vernacular.
a poet with a keen ear for demotic rhythms.
-
of or relating to the common people; popular.
-
of, relating to, or noting the simplified form of hieratic writing used in ancient Egypt between 700 b.c. and a.d. 500.
noun
-
demotic script.
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Also called Romaic. (initial capital letter) the Modern Greek vernacular (Katharevusa ).
adjective
-
of or relating to the common people; popular
-
of or relating to a simplified form of hieroglyphics used in ancient Egypt by the ordinary literate class outside the priesthood Compare hieratic
noun
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
- demotist noun
Etymology
Origin of demotic
1815–25; < Greek dēmotikós popular, plebeian, equivalent to dēmót ( ēs ) a plebeian (derivative of dêmos; demo- ) + -ikos -ic
Explanation
A demotic saying or expression is casual, colloquial, and used by the masses. Some forms of the Greek and Egyptian languages are also called demotic, which will be relevant to you when you get your PhD in Classics. Demotic comes from the Greek word demotikos, meaning "of or for the common people" or "in common use." Members of the aristocracy don’t typically use demotic idioms, but it is often the elite who will point out that something is demotic. Of course, in a classless society, everything ought to be demotic, therefore making it obsolete to designate sayings as demotic. So far, however, demotic is still a relevant term.
Vocabulary lists containing demotic
Quiz yourself on these words spoken by the man at the center of the "Laurel" / "Yanny" craze!
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We the People: Dem
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Consider the Lobster
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
With a voice that is relatively light and raspy and a delivery both nimble and demotic, Mr. Dale matches his energy to the text in a way that makes for effortless listening.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025
Beside the "beautifully and accurately carved" sphinx, archaeologists also found a Roman-era stone slab with demotic and hieroglyphic inscriptions.
From BBC • Mar. 6, 2023
Many crime writers, notably Elmore Leonard, have found ways of updating the hard-boiled genre while retaining its vim and demotic panache.
From Washington Post • Mar. 24, 2020
Her prose could be lush, or raw and demotic, or carefree and eccentric, often on a single page.
From New York Times • Aug. 6, 2019
The names of the kings who composed it have recently been found in deeds written in demotic characters.
From The Egypt of the Hebrews and Herodotos by Sayce, A. H. (Archibald Henry)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
