representative
n. · adj.-
1 a person acting for others (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatesomeone who has been chosen to speak or make decisions for a group.
an individual appointed or elected to act or speak on behalf of others, often in a professional or political capacity.
ExampleI need to speak with a customer service representative about my bill.
ExampleThe union representative negotiated with the management team to ensure better safety protocols for the factory workers.
UsageOften followed by the preposition 'of' or 'for'.
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2 an elected politician (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate American English Politicsa member of a government body, like the House of Representatives in the US.
an elected official in a legislative body, specifically used as a title for members of the lower house in several countries.
ExampleYou should write a letter to your local representative about the new road.
ExampleThe Representative from Ohio introduced a bill aimed at increasing federal funding for renewable energy research.
UsageOften capitalized when used as a formal title before a name.
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3 typical of a group (adj.) B2 Upper Intermediatehaving the same qualities as the rest of a group.
serving as a typical or characteristic example of a larger class or group.
ExampleWe interviewed a representative sample of people to see what they thought.
ExampleThe survey results were not truly representative of the national mood because most participants lived in urban areas.
UsageFrequently used in the phrase 'representative sample'.
- atypical
- unrepresentative
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4 depicting something (adj.) C1 Advanced Formalshowing or describing something in a clear way.
serving to represent or portray something through a likeness or symbol.
ExampleThe painting is representative of the artist's early style.
ExampleThe statues were highly representative, capturing the intricate details of traditional clothing from that period.
From Middle English representative, from Middle French representatif and its etymon Medieval Latin repraesentātīvus. By surface analysis, represent + -ative; See representation.