representative
nounEtymology From Middle English representative, from Middle French representatif and its etymon Medieval Latin repraesentātīvus. By surface analysis, represent + -ative; See representation. Displaced native Old English spala (“a representative”).
10 senses
- 1Someone who represents others as a member of a…
- 2One who speaks for or acts on behalf of another in a…
- 3An heir.
- 4Specifically, a member of the United States House of…
- 5A company agent who visits potential purchasers; a salesman.
- 6Something representing or standing for another; a…
- 7A member of a particular class.
- 8Something (especially a living organism) regarded as…
- 9A consistent choice of element from an equivalence…
- 10A substitute or analogue.
› A delegate.
Someone who represents others as a member of a legislative or governing body.
- 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 political blocs. Opposition comes from the Outriders' Coalition, with delegates from thousands of smaller ships.2008, BioWare, Mass Effect, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Quarians: Government Codex entry:
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.
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 (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC:
Government, Politics US Specifically, a member of the United States House of Representatives.
- All representatives face re-election every two years.
A company agent who visits potential purchasers; a salesman.
› Something standing for something else.
Something representing or standing for another; a symbol, an embodiment.
- 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), L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “(please specify the page)”, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], published 1842, →OCLC, pages 131–133:
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 carriers' airgroups on her flight deck at the same time.2019 February 27, Drachinifel, 28:07 from the start, in The Battle of Samar - Odds? What are those?, archived from the original on 03 Nov 2022:
› Something standing for something else. › A member of a particular class.
Something (especially a living organism) regarded as typical of its class; a type.
Mathematics, Sciences A consistent choice of element from an equivalence class, used to identify it.
› Something standing for something else.
A substitute or analogue.
- Synonyms
- rep
- Derived terms
- House of Representatives, legal representative, manufacturer's representative, manufacturers representative, proxy representative, representativeship, sales representative
- Related terms
- represent, Member of Parliament