D defs.my
Entry 4 senses Webster, 1913

Democracy

/(dē̇*mŏk"rȧ*sy̆)/ · De·moc·ra·cy · IPA /dɪˈmɑ.kɹə.si/
01 n. Government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is retained and directly exercised by the people.
pl. Democracies ((dē̇*mŏk"rȧ*sĭz))
  1. 1.
    Government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is retained and directly exercised by the people.
  2. 2.
    Government by popular representation; a form of government in which the supreme power is retained by the people, but is indirectly exercised through a system of representation and delegated authority periodically renewed; a constitutional representative government; a republic.
  3. 3.
    Collectively, the people, regarded as the source of government.
  4. 4.
    The principles and policy of the Democratic party, so called.[U.S.]