representative

1 of 2

adjective

rep·​re·​sen·​ta·​tive ˌre-pri-ˈzen-tə-tiv 

1

: serving to represent

a painting representative of a storm

2

a

: standing or acting for another especially through delegated authority

b

: of, based on, or constituting a government in which the many are represented by persons chosen from among them usually by election

representative democracy

3

a

: serving as a typical or characteristic example of a particular group of people or of a particular thing

a representative moviegoer

a representative romantic poem

The paintings are representative of English art in the early 19th century.

b

: including examples of the different types of people or things in a group

The students chosen for the survey are a fairly representative sample of college students from across the U.S.

However, representation simply is not enough—especially when it is one-dimensional, superficial, or not actually representative. Some scholars describe how Asian American media depictions still tend to reinforce stereotypes …

—Kevin Leo Yabut Nadal

4

: of or relating to representation or representationalism

representatively adverb

representativeness noun

representativity

ˌre-pri-ˌzen-tə-ˈti-və-tē 

noun

representative

2 of 2

noun

plural representatives

1

: someone or something that represents another or others: such as

a(1)

: someone who represents a constituency as a member of a legislative body

(2)

: a member of the house of representatives of the U.S. Congress or a state legislature

state representatives

b

: someone who represents another as agent, deputy, substitute, or delegate usually being invested with the authority of the principal

c

: someone who represents a business organization

a sales representative

d

: someone who represents a social group sharing an affiliation or culture

Various representatives of community resources and cultures assisted in deepening the recruits' understanding of the community, its people, available services, and fostering connections with local non-profit organizations.

—Marla Poirier

e

: someone who represents another as successor or heir

2

: a typical example of a group, class, or quality : specimen

Synonyms

Adjective

• archetypal
• archetypical
• average
• characteristic
• normal
• regular
• standard
• true
• typical

Noun

• agent
• assignee
• attorney
• commissary
• delegate
• deputy
• envoy
• factor
• minister
• procurator
• proxy
• rep

Examples of representative in a Sentence

Adjective

The paintings are representative of English art in the early 19th century.

The students chosen for the survey are a fairly representative sample of college students from across the U.S.

Noun

Do you know who your representatives are?

The bill was introduced by Representative Smith.

a representative of her age group

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The study, published in SLEEP Advances, examined survey and cognitive screening data from a nationally representative cohort of 18,815 U.S. adults collected over 10 years. —Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024

For one, the UK Biobank is not a perfectly representative group, and likely the participants represent a relatively wealthier, whiter slice of the population, says Boone. —Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 31 Oct. 2024

Noun

The seasonal employees are covered under the bargaining agreement that UPS signed with the Teamsters union in 2023, a union representative confirmed to USA TODAY. —James Powel, USA TODAY, 3 Nov. 2024

School representatives such as teachers, counselors, club advisers, communication staff and principals can nominate these high school students by 5 p.m. on Thursdays. —Caroline Ritzie, The Enquirer, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1635, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing representative

• representative democracy

Kids Definition

representative

1 of 2 adjective

rep·​re·​sen·​ta·​tive ˌrep-ri-ˈzent-ət-iv 

1

: serving to represent

a painting representative of a battle

2

: standing or acting for another especially through delegated authority

3

: of, based upon, or being a government in which the people are represented by persons chosen from among them usually by election

4

: serving as a typical example of the thing mentioned

a representative athlete

representatively adverb

representativeness noun

representative

2 of 2 noun

1

: a typical example of a group, class, or quality

2

: one that represents another or others : delegate

especially : a member of the house of representatives of the U.S. Congress or a state legislature

Legal Definition

representative

1 of 2 adjective

rep·​re·​sen·​ta·​tive

1

: serving to represent

2

a

: standing or acting for another especially through delegated authority

an agent acting in a representative capacity

b

: of, based on, or constituting a government in which the people are represented by individuals chosen from among them usually by election

3

: of or relating to representation

representative

2 of 2 noun

: one that represents another or others in a special capacity: as

a

: one that represents a constituency as a member of a legislative or other governing body

specifically : a member of the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress or a state legislature

b

: one that represents another as agent, deputy, substitute, or delegate and that usually is invested with the authority of the principal

c

: one that represents or stands in the place of a deceased person : personal representative

d

: one that represents another as successor or heir

e

: one named as the plaintiff or defendant in a class action to litigate on behalf of the class