representative

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See also: représentative

English

Etymology

From Middle English (implied in representatyfliche), from Old French representatif. By surface analysis, represent +‎ -ative; See representation.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˌɹɛpɹɪˈzɛnt(ət)ɪv/
  • (file)
  • Hyphenation: rep‧re‧sen‧ta‧tive

Adjective

representative (comparative more representative, superlative most representative)

  1. Typical; having the same properties or interest as a larger group.
    • 1964 December, “New Books”, in Modern Railways, page 429:
      THE POCKET ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF BRITISH STEAM LOCOMOTIVES. By O. S. Nock. Blandford Press. 18s.
      Mr. Nock, he remarks in his preface, was "incredulous" when the idea of this book of 192 colour gravure illustrations of a representative collection of British steam locomotives from Locomotion to BR's Evening Star was broached to him.
    • c. 1977, Carl Parker (attributed quote)
      If you took all the fools out of the legislature, it wouldn't be a representative body anymore.
  2. Representing, showing a likeness.
    Are you sure this paper is representative of your child's writing?
    the representative faculty of the human imagination

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

representative (plural representatives)

  1. A delegate.
    1. Someone who represents others as a member of a legislative or governing body.
      She served four terms as representative of her local at the national union convention.
      • 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Quarians: Government Codex entry:
        Each vessel in the Fleet has the right to send representatives to the Conclave aboard the flagship. The number of representatives is based on crew size. Larger clans, with bigger ships and more votes, form the cores of political blocs. Opposition comes from the Outriders' Coalition, with delegates from thousands of smaller ships.
    2. One who speaks for or acts on behalf of another in a particular (especially official) capacity.
      I will send a representative to work out the details of the contract.
    3. (law) An heir.
    4. (US, politics) Specifically, a member of the United States House of Representatives.
      All representatives face re-election every two years.
    5. A company agent who visits potential purchasers; a salesman.
  2. Something standing for something else.
    1. Something representing or standing for another; a symbol, an embodiment.
      • 1838 (date written), L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “(please specify the page)”, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. , volume I, London: Henry Colburn, , published 1842, →OCLC, pages 131–133:
        The furniture was the same when she married..[ ]..The only representatives of to-day, were two large and comfortable arm-chairs, and a few elegant-looking trifles, the work of the Misses Granard.
    2. A member of a particular class.
      • 2019 February 27, Drachinifel, 28:07 from the start, in The Battle of Samar - Odds? What are those?, archived from the original on 3 November 2022:
        The USS Manila Bay, in the next group south of Taffy 3, services aircraft from eleven different squadrons that aren't attached to her own flight group, and, at one point, has representatives from no less than four other carriers' airgroups on her flight deck at the same time.
      1. Something (especially a living organism) regarded as typical of its class; a type.
    3. A substitute or analogue.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also

Further reading

  • "representative" in Raymond Williams, Keywords (revised), 1983, Fontana Press, page 266.

Norwegian Bokmål

Adjective

representative

  1. inflection of representativ:
    1. definite singular
    2. plural

Norwegian Nynorsk

Adjective

representative

  1. inflection of representativ:
    1. definite singular
    2. plural