representative

Typical; having the same properties or interest as a larger group.

Adjective

  1. Typical; having the same properties or interest as a larger group.
    • THE POCKET ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF BRITISH STEAM LOCOMOTIVES. By O. S. Nock. Blandford Press. 18s. Mr. Nock, he remarks in his preface, was "incredulous" when the idea of this book of 192 colour gravure illustrations of a...
    • If you took all the fools out of the legislature, it wouldn't be a representative body anymore. - c. 1977, Carl Parker (attributed quote)
  2. Representing, showing a likeness.
    • Are you sure this paper is representative of your child's writing?
    • the representative faculty of the human imagination

Origin

From Middle English representative, from Middle French representatif and its etymon Medieval Latin repraesentātīvus. By surface analysis, represent + -ative; See representation.

Forms

more representative most representative

Derived

biorepresentative misrepresentative nonrepresentative overrepresentative representative action representative body representative democracy representative element representative fraction representative government representatively representative money representativeness representativity unrepresentative

Noun

  1. A delegate.
    • She served four terms as representative of her local at the national union convention.
    • Each vessel in the Fleet has the right to send representatives to the Conclave aboard the flagship. The number of representatives is based on crew size. Larger clans, with bigger ships and more votes, form the cores of...

    1. Someone who represents others as a member of a legislative or governing body.

    2. One who speaks for or acts on behalf of another in a particular (especially official) capacity.

      • I will send a representative to work out the details of the contract.

    3. (law) An heir.

      • This pathetic remonstrance had the desired effect upon his representative, who spared no pains to fulfill the request of the deceased […]. - 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume...

    4. (US, politics) Specifically, a member of the United States House of Representatives.

      • All representatives face re-election every two years.

    5. A company agent who visits potential purchasers; a salesman.

  2. Something standing for something else.
    • The furniture was the same when she married..[ ]..The only representatives of to-day, were two large and comfortable arm-chairs, and a few elegant-looking trifles, the work of the Misses Granard. - 1838 (date written),...

    1. Something representing or standing for another; a symbol, an embodiment.

    2. A member of a particular class.

      • The USS Manila Bay, in the next group south of Taffy 3, services aircraft from eleven different squadrons that aren't attached to her own flight group, and, at one point, has representatives from no less than four other...

    3. A member of a particular class.

      Something (especially a living organism) regarded as typical of its class; a type.

    4. A member of a particular class.

      (mathematics) A consistent choice of element from an equivalence class, used to identify it.

    5. A substitute or analogue.

Forms

representatives

Synonyms

rep

Related

represent Member of Parliament

Derived

House of Representatives legal representative manufacturer's representative manufacturers representative proxy representative representativeship sales representative