Aristocracy vs. Democracy

Aristocracynoun

The nobility, or the hereditary ruling class.

Aristocracynoun

Government by such a class, or a state with such a government

Aristocracynoun

A class of people considered (not normally universally) superior to others

Aristocracynoun

Government by the best citizens.

Aristocracynoun

A ruling body composed of the best citizens.

Aristocracynoun

A form a government, in which the supreme power is vested in the principal persons of a state, or in a privileged order; an oligarchy.

Aristocracynoun

The nobles or chief persons in a state; a privileged class or patrician order; (in a popular use) those who are regarded as superior to the rest of the community, as in rank, fortune, or intellect.

Aristocracynoun

a privileged class holding hereditary titles

Aristocracynoun

the most powerful members of a society

Aristocracynoun

the highest class in certain societies, typically comprising people of noble birth holding hereditary titles and offices

Aristocracynoun

a form of government in which power is held by the nobility.

Aristocracynoun

a state in which governing power is held by the nobility.

Aristocracynoun

a group regarded as privileged or superior in a particular sphere

Aristocracy

Aristocracy (Greek: ἀριστοκρατία aristokratía, from ἄριστος aristos 'excellent', and κράτος, kratos 'rule') is a form of government that places strength in the hands of a small, privileged ruling class, the aristocrats. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning 'rule of the best'.At the time of the word's origins in ancient Greece, the Greeks conceived it as rule by the best-qualified citizens—and often contrasted it favorably with monarchy, rule by an individual.

Democracynoun

(uncountable) Rule by the people, especially as a form of government; either directly or through elected representatives (representative democracy).

Democracynoun

A government under the direct or representative rule of the people of its jurisdiction.

Democracynoun

(uncountable) Belief in political freedom and equality; the "spirit of democracy".

Democracynoun

Government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is retained and directly exercised by the people.

Democracynoun

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.

Democracynoun

Collectively, the people, regarded as the source of government.

Democracynoun

The principles and policy of the Democratic party, so called.

Democracynoun

the political orientation of those who favor government by the people or by their elected representatives

Democracynoun

a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

Democracynoun

the doctrine that the numerical majority of an organized group can make decisions binding on the whole group

Democracy

Democracy (Greek: δημοκρατία, dēmokratiā, from dēmos 'people' and kratos 'rule') refers to a form of government in which the people either have the authority to choose their governing legislators, or the authority to decide on legislation. Who is considered part of the people and how authority is shared among or delegated by the people has changed over time and at different speeds in different countries, but more and more of the inhabitants of countries have generally been included.