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

The Qatari visitors will be brought to Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, where the Emir will speak to representatives of the House of Commons and House of Lords.

From BBC

More than 300 pages of typed documents, compiled by the Fab Four's various advisors and legal representatives, were found in a cupboard where they had lain untouched since the 1970s.

From BBC

The MoD says it is the first war games to involve representatives of the defence industry – alongside military commanders and officials.

From BBC

In the Hague, the court will also hear from a range of countries including the US and China, as well as representatives of the oil producing group OPEC.

From BBC

One arm of the survey encompassed 1,310 adults demographically representative of the U.S. population, focusing on people who believed that climate change is happening.

From Salon

Related Words

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