representative
Pluralrepresentatives
Pluralrepresentatives
- 1A person who speaks for or acts on behalf of another, especially in an official capacity.
The ambassador serves as the president's representative abroad.
Each department sent two representatives to the planning committee.
UsageUsually of the group spoken for: a representative of the union. You act as someone's representative.
Similardelegate, agent, envoy, spokesperson, emissary
- 2A member of a lawmaking or governing assembly who acts on behalf of other people.
Voters in the district chose a representative who promised education reform.
State representatives debated the budget late into the night.
Similarlegislator, lawmaker
- 3Typical of a larger group, sharing the same properties or interests as that group.
The survey used a representative sample of two thousand adults.
His complaints were representative of how most employees felt.
UsageTakes of before the group: representative of most employees. Common with sample and cross-section: a representative sample.
Similartypical, characteristic
Oppositeunrepresentative, atypical, untypical
Note
Carl Parker's quip, that a legislature without its fools would no longer be a representative body, works because it slides between being typical and the elected-government meaning.
- 4A member of the United States House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Congress.
The representative from Ohio introduced a bill on rural broadband.
Representatives serve two-year terms and face reelection in even-numbered years.
UsageAs a title it takes a capital: Representative Smith, often written Rep. Smith. In speech, often a congressman or congresswoman.
Similarcongressman, congresswoman, congressperson
Note
American politics narrows the word to one chamber. A representative sits in the House and a senator in the Senate, though both belong to Congress.
- 5A company agent who visits potential purchasers in order to sell goods or services; a salesman.
A pharmaceutical representative stopped by the clinic with samples and brochures.
The company's representatives cover three states between them.
Similarsalesperson, agent, salesman, saleswoman
- 6A person or thing that is an example or member of a particular class, group or type.
Botanists chose the sugar maple as a representative of the genus for the exhibit.
The diner stands as a representative of mid-century American roadside architecture.
- 7Describing a government or political system in which citizens choose officials by election to make laws and decisions for them.
Critics argue that representative institutions slowly drift away from the voters who elect them.
Some New England towns combine representative government with open meetings where any resident can vote.
Similardemocratic
Less common meanings
- 8Something that stands for or embodies another thing; a symbol or an embodiment.
Critics read the white whale as a representative of nature's indifference.
The crown functions as a representative of royal authority itself.
Similarsymbol, embodiment, emblem, personification
- 9Showing a likeness of something else; serving to depict or portray a subject.
The gallery favors representative work over abstract pieces.
Early in his career he worked in a representative style, painting farms and harbors before he turned to abstraction.
UsageFor art, representational is the more common word: representational painting.
Similarfigurative, realistic, lifelike
Oppositeabstract
- 10Something that serves as a substitute for, or an analog of, another thing.
Researchers use the fruit fly as a representative of more complex organisms.
Because the real engine was too costly to risk, the team tested a cheaper representative with the same weight and shape.
Similarproxy, model, substitute, analogue, surrogate
- 11An element of an equivalence class used to identify or stand for the whole class.
- 12A person who inherits the rights or property of someone who has died; an heir.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
The word continues Middle English "representative," borrowed from Middle French "representatif" and Medieval Latin "repraesentativus." Its modern form can be analyzed as "represent" plus "-ative."