# democracy

> English word · Noun · IPA /dɪˈmɒk.ɹə.si/ · frequency rank #2,941

## Definitions
1. Rule by the people, especially as a form of government; either directly or through elected representatives (representative democracy).
2. A government under the direct or representative rule of the people of its jurisdiction.
3. A state with a democratic system of government.
4. Belief in political freedom and equality; the "spirit of democracy".

## Etymology
From Middle French democratie (French démocratie), from Medieval Latin dēmocratia, from Ancient Greek δημοκρᾰτῐ́ᾱ (dēmokrătĭ́ā).
By surface analysis, demo- (“people”) + -cracy (“rule”).

## Easily confused with
- **democrat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/democracy-vs-democrat)

## Common misspellings (14)
`ddemocracy`, `demcoracy`, `demmocracy`, `democarcy`, `democcracy`, `democraccy`, `democracyy`, `democrayc`, `democrcay`, `democrracy`, `demorcacy`, `deomcracy`, `dmeocracy`, `edmocracy`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/democracy