noun pl. democracies -·cies

1. government in which the people hold the ruling power either directly or through elected representatives; rule by the ruled
2. a country, state, etc. with such government
3. majority rule
4. the principle of equality of rights, opportunity, and treatment, or the practice of this principle
5. the common people, esp. as the wielders of political power

Etymology: Fr démocratie < ML democratia < Gr dēmokratia < dēmos, the people (< IE *damos, a division of the people < base *da-, to cut, divide > tide) + kratein, to rule < kratos, strength: see hard