民主主義(みんしゅしゅぎ)

みんしゅしゅぎ
noun
democracy
1. democracy
A political system in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through elected representatives.
民主主義(みんしゅしゅぎ)を守(まも)る。
To protect democracy.
民主主義(みんしゅしゅぎ)国家(こっか)。
A democratic nation.
民主主義(みんしゅしゅぎ)の基本(きほん)原則(げんそく)。
The basic principles of democracy.

民主主義(みんしゅしゅぎ) is the standard term for democracy as a political ideology and system of government. The word is composed of 民主(みんしゅ) (people's sovereignty) + 主義(しゅぎ) (-ism).

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 民主主義(みんしゅしゅぎ)を守(まも)る: to protect democracy
  • 民主主義(みんしゅしゅぎ)国家(こっか): a democratic nation
  • 民主主義(みんしゅしゅぎ)の原則(げんそく): principles of democracy

RELATED TERMS:

  • 民主的(みんしゅてき): democratic (na-adjective, used to describe processes or attitudes)
  • 民主化(みんしゅか): democratization
  • 直接(ちょくせつ)民主主義(みんしゅしゅぎ): direct democracy
  • 間接(かんせつ)民主主義(みんしゅしゅぎ): representative democracy

CONTRAST:
Opposed to 独裁(どくさい) (dictatorship) and 専制(せんせい)政治(せいじ) (autocracy). 民主主義(みんしゅしゅぎ) emphasizes the ideology, while 民主(みんしゅ)政治(せいじ) refers specifically to democratic governance as a system.

Related Words

Antonym: 独裁(どくさい) (dictatorship)
Related: 資本主義(しほんしゅぎ) (capitalism)
Related: 社会主義(しゃかいしゅぎ) (socialism)
Related: 共産主義(きょうさんしゅぎ) (communism)
general
Added 2026.1.16 15:00 · Revised 2026.4.14 14:01
05000/05413_minshushugi