Democracy
Etymology
From Greek “dēmokratia,” from “dēmos,” “the people,” + “kratos,” “power, rule.” Coined in classical Athens, the word was often used disparagingly by aristocratic writers, for whom “rule by the common people” meant rule by the ignorant mob — a suspicion that shadowed the term for two millennia before it became a badge of honor.
noun · /dih-MOK-ruh-see/
A system in which political power ultimately rests with the people, usually exercised through voting and elected representatives.
What it names
Use it for rule that traces its authority back to the governed — as distinct from rule justified by force, birth, or wealth.
Example
In a democracy, an unpopular government can be removed at the next election rather than by force.
Related idea
Democracy names who holds power (the people); it does not by itself guarantee the rule of law or protection of minorities. A majority can vote to strip a minority of its rights — which is why liberal democracies pair popular rule with constitutional limits.