representative

/ˌrɛprɪˈzɛntətɪv/

Say it: rep-ri-ZEN-tuh-tiv

1. noun A person chosen or appointed to act or speak for another person or for a group.
Each union elects a representative to the national conference.
2. adjective Serving as a typical or characteristic example of a particular group or class.
The poll surveyed a representative sample of voters to predict the election outcome.
3. adjective Relating to a system of government where citizens elect people to act on their behalf.
The United States is a representative democracy.
4. noun A typical example or specimen of something.
This painting is a fine representative of the Impressionist school.

📖 Seen in the wild

The small sample was not truly representative of the entire population.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ representative in a sentence

A customer service representative will be able to help you with your account.
The views expressed by the speaker are not representative of the entire organization.
We sent a representative to the international trade fair to showcase our products.
The committee must be fully representative of all minority groups.
Her bold, colorful style is representative of the new wave of young artists.
Citizens have a right to petition their elected representatives.
This single case is not representative of the broader trend.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

delegate agent typical spokesperson envoy deputy characteristic proxy quintessential

delegate · implies being sent with specific instructions for a particular event.

agent · suggests acting with legal or official authority for another.

typical · a more common adjective for something showing the usual qualities of a group.

spokesperson · focuses specifically on the act of speaking for a group, often to the public.

Opposites: unrepresentative, atypical, unusual, exceptional, uncharacteristic

🌱 Where it comes from

The word comes from Latin 'repraesentare', meaning 'to make present' or 'display'. It entered English through French in the 14th century, first with the idea of symbolizing something. The political sense of a person acting on behalf of a group of citizens developed later, becoming central to the concept of modern democracy.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

sales representativeelected representativerepresentative samplecustomer service representativetruly representative of

While 'representative' is a common word, its abbreviation 'rep' is informal and should be avoided in formal writing. Be careful not to confuse 'representative' (typical of a group) with 'representational' (aiming to depict a subject realistically, used mainly in art). The noun form is often used for specific job titles, such as 'sales representative' or 'union representative'.

Word family: represent, representation, representational

💬 Quick answers

What does 'representative' mean?

It can mean a person who acts on behalf of a group, like a politician. It can also be an adjective describing something that is a typical example of its kind, like a 'representative sample'.

What is the difference between a representative and a delegate?

A representative is generally trusted to use their own judgment when acting for a group. A delegate is often sent with specific instructions and has less freedom to decide on their own.

Is 'rep' a correct abbreviation for representative?

Yes, 'rep' is a common informal abbreviation, especially for roles like 'sales rep' or a political 'congressional rep'. It is best used in casual contexts, not formal writing.

What is a representative sample?

A representative sample is a small group or subset that accurately reflects the characteristics of the larger population it is drawn from, which is crucial for valid research and surveys.

1 word nerd collected it V

Want "representative" to actually stick?

Save it to your own vault, let AI explain it, practice till it's yours.

Start for free →