democracy etymology

Etymology

The word "democracy" is derived from the Greek words "dēmos" (δήμος), meaning "people," and "kratos" (κράτος), meaning "power" or "rule."

Meaning and Origin

Democracy is a form of government in which the people have the power or authority to make decisions for the community. It is based on the principle that all citizens are equal and have the right to participate in the political process.

The concept of democracy originated in ancient Greece, where it emerged in the city-state of Athens in the 5th century BCE. The Athenian democracy was a direct democracy, meaning that all citizens (adult male citizens only) had the right to participate directly in the Assembly, which was the city's legislative body.

Over time, the concept of democracy evolved and spread to other parts of the world. In the 18th century, philosophers such as John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau argued that all people had natural rights to life, liberty, and property, and that these rights should be protected by a democratic government.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, democracy became a widespread form of government around the world. Today, most countries have some form of democratic government, although the level of democracy varies from country to country.

democracy relate terms

  • demotic

    Etymology The term demotic derives from the Greek word dēmotikos meaning of or be

  • hieratic

    Etymology The word hieratic derives from the Ancient Greek word hieratikos which m

  • hieroglyphic

    Etymology Greek hieros sacred gluphē carving Meaning A system of writing

  • aristocracy

    Etymology The word aristocracy comes from the Greek words aristos best most excelle

  • aristo

    Etymology Greek aristos meaning best Meaning Of or pertaining to the best

  • monarchy

    Etymology From Late Latin monarchia from Ancient Greek μοναρχία monarchia a

  • democracy

    Etymology The word democracy is derived from the Greek words dēmos δήμος mea

  • democrat

    Etymology The word democrat originates from the Greek term dēmokratia meaning rule

  • democratic

    Etymology Demo Greek people Kratos Greek power Meaning Democracy is a f

  • republic

    Etymology Derived from the Latin word res publica literally meaning public thing or

  • doublethink

    Etymology Doublethink is a neologism coined by George Orwell in his 1949 novel Nineteen

  • oligarchy

    Etymology Greek oligarchia oligos few arkhos leader Meaning and Origin Ol

  • isonomia

    Etymology Greek ἰσονομία isonomia From ἴσος isos equal νόμο

  • psephocracy

    Etymology From Greek ψῆφος psephos pebble or vote κράτος kratos

  • commonwealth

    Etymology The word commonwealth is derived from the Middle English term common wele

  • philosophy

    Etymology The word philosophy is derived from the Greek words philo φίλο meani

  • ideology

    Etymology The word ideology is derived from the French word idéologie which in turn