representative

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "representative" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who acts on behalf of another, or stands in for another. For example: "My brother is my legal representative in the lawsuit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We know that acts of extremism are not representative of Islam, but we need to show what is.

The Guardian

Results have been weighted to nationally representative criteria.

The Guardian

When Liberal Democrat thoughts do turn to a new leader after the next general election, Chris Huhne, who finished second to Campbell in this year's contest, or a representative of he younger generation like Nick Clegg will inherit his crown.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Liberal Democrats no longer have a single woman representative among their eight remaining MPs.

The Guardian

Related: Hands across the divide: Cypriots go where their politicians fear to tread Eide, a former Norwegian foreign minister who is the UN secretary general's special representative, says he does not expect Friday's meeting, the first since talks were stalled last October, to go beyond a "general exchange of views".

The Guardian

Of all the senators who attempted Wednesday to rally support for the doomed Manchin-Toomey background check amendment, Connecticut's Democratic freshman representative, Chris Murphy, probably faced the greatest temptation to borrow the moral authority of the Newtown families.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Of course, Owen goes with our best wishes," said Easterby before adding: "We'd like to be clear that we had discussed a new contract with him, and made his representative fully aware of our willingness to discuss securing his future as a rugby professional with us.

The Guardian - Sport

"Intolerance of corruption is essential to the survival of our representative democracy and way of life," he said.

The Guardian

She was US representative to the UN General Assembly during late 1969 and went on to hold two US ambassador positions - as ambassador to Ghana from 1974-77 (under Gerald Ford) and to the then Czechoslovakia under George HW Bush from 1989-92.

The Guardian - Film

The Ukip leader said his party is more representative than the others and immigrants from outside the EU such as engineers from New Zealand face discrimination compared with low-skilled EU immigrants.

The Guardian

An American couple cleared by a Qatari appeals court of wrongdoing in the death of their eight-year-old adopted daughter but blocked from leaving the country held out hope on Monday that they would soon be allowed to leave the tiny Gulf nation, as a family representative blasted a continued travel ban against them as "institutional kidnapping".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "representative" to describe a group, ensure that the sample size is large enough and chosen randomly to accurately reflect the overall population.

Common error

Avoid using "representative" when you mean "representational". "Representative" describes someone or something acting on behalf of others or typical of a group. "Representational" refers to something that depicts or portrays something else. For instance, a painting can be representational, whereas a senator is a representative.

Linguistic Context

The word "representative" functions primarily as a noun, referring to a person who acts on behalf of others, or as an adjective, describing something that is typical of a larger group. As shown in Ludwig, it is often used to describe political figures, sales agents, or statistical samples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "representative" is a versatile word, functioning as both a noun and an adjective. It's widely used to describe someone acting on behalf of others or something typical of a larger group. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, indicating that it is suitable for use in writing. Its frequency is "Very common", particularly in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Scientific contexts. When employing "representative", remember to distinguish it from "representational" and ensure the described sample accurately mirrors the population. Common alternatives include "delegate" and "agent", depending on the specific nuance required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

delegate

Refers to someone chosen to act for or represent others, often in a political or professional context.

agent

An individual authorized to act on behalf of another, particularly in business or legal matters.

spokesperson

Someone who speaks on behalf of an organization or group.

advocate

A person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy.

ambassador

A diplomatic official representing their country abroad.

voice

Symbolizes expressing the opinions or concerns of a group.

exemplar

Something serving as a typical example or excellent model.

symbol

Something that stands for or suggests something else by reason of relationship, association, convention, or accidental resemblance.

sample

A small part or quantity intended to show what the whole is like.

typical

Having the distinctive qualities of a particular type of person or thing.

FAQs

How is the term "representative" used in politics?

In politics, a "representative" is typically a person elected to act on behalf of a constituency in a legislative body, such as a parliament or congress. They are expected to voice the concerns and interests of their constituents.

What does it mean when a sample is considered "representative"?

A "representative" sample means that the sample accurately reflects the characteristics of the larger population from which it's drawn, ensuring that any conclusions drawn from the sample can be generalized to the entire population.

What are some synonyms for "representative" when referring to a salesperson?

When referring to a salesperson, synonyms for "representative" include "agent", "salesperson", "account manager", or "field representative".

What is the difference between a "representative" and a "delegate"?

While both terms imply acting on behalf of others, a "representative" often has broader decision-making power, whereas a "delegate" is typically bound by specific instructions or mandates from the group they represent.