# representative

/ˌɹɛpɹəˈzɛnətɪv/ (US) · /ɹˌɛpɹɪzˈɛntətˌɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/representative
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a person acting for others

noun · CEFR B2

someone who has been chosen to speak or make decisions for a group.

For teachers: an individual appointed or elected to act or speak on behalf of others, often in a professional or political capacity.

- I need to speak with a customer service representative about my bill.
- The union representative negotiated with the management team to ensure better safety protocols for the factory workers.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'of' or 'for'.

### 2. an elected politician

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a member of a government body, like the House of Representatives in the US.

For teachers: an elected official in a legislative body, specifically used as a title for members of the lower house in several countries.

- You should write a letter to your local representative about the new road.
- The Representative from Ohio introduced a bill aimed at increasing federal funding for renewable energy research.

Usage: Often capitalized when used as a formal title before a name.

### 3. typical of a group

adjective · CEFR B2

having the same qualities as the rest of a group.

For teachers: serving as a typical or characteristic example of a larger class or group.

- We interviewed a representative sample of people to see what they thought.
- The survey results were not truly representative of the national mood because most participants lived in urban areas.

Usage: Frequently used in the phrase 'representative sample'.

### 4. depicting something

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

showing or describing something in a clear way.

For teachers: serving to represent or portray something through a likeness or symbol.

- The painting is representative of the artist's early style.
- The statues were highly representative, capturing the intricate details of traditional clothing from that period.

## Examples

- The sales representative showed us the new products.
- Each department must send one representative to the monthly safety meeting to discuss new office policies.
- The elected representative spent the afternoon meeting with constituents to better understand their concerns before the upcoming legislative vote on environmental regulations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.