democrat
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.someone who believes in and supports democracy as a way to govern a country.
n.an advocate of democracy or democratic principles of government.
Simple“As a lifelong democrat, he believed that every citizen should have an equal voice in government.”
In context“The philosopher argued that a true democrat must protect the rights of the minority even when the majority disagrees.”
SynonymsAntonymsautocrataristocrat - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a member or supporter of the Democratic Party in the United States.
n.a member or supporter of the Democratic Party in the United States; typically capitalised in this sense.
Simple“She has been a registered Democrat since she turned eighteen.”
In context“The senator, a prominent Democrat from the Northeast, led the debate on the new environmental legislation.”
PitfallThe democrat candidate won the election. The Democratic candidate won the election.When used as an adjective to describe the party or its members, use 'Democratic' with a capital D.
Antonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
adj.used to describe things related to the Democratic Party in the US, though some people find this usage rude.
adj.used as a modifier for the Democratic Party or its members; often considered a partisan or derogatory label when used instead of the standard adjective 'Democratic'.
Simple“He often complained about what he called democrat policies on the news.”
In context“The talk-radio host pointedly used the term 'Democrat fundraiser' to signal his opposition to the party's platform.”
UsageThis form is used as a noun-adjunct before other nouns, such as 'democrat party' or 'democrat politicians'.
Teacher's tipLearners should avoid using 'democrat' as an adjective. In the US, using 'the Democrat Party' instead of 'the Democratic Party' is often seen as a deliberate political insult.
“She decided against running in the 22nd district, where she lives, and chose instead to compete in the deep blue 20th, which has been represented by Black Democrats for more than 30 years.”
“Democrats have their sights set on upsetting Republican Ashley Moody in the US Senate general election.”