A democrat is someone who believes in democracy, a system where people have the power to choose their leaders through voting and elections. The word comes from Greek roots meaning “rule by the people.”

In a democracy, citizens participate in government by voting for representatives who will make decisions on their behalf. A democrat supports this idea: that ordinary people should have a voice in how they're governed, rather than having kings, dictators, or small groups of powerful elites make all the decisions.

The word can also describe someone's approach to leadership or decision-making. A teacher who lets students vote on class activities is being democratic. A family that makes vacation plans by letting everyone have input is using democratic principles.

In the United States, Democrat (with a capital D) also refers to a member of the Democratic Party, one of the two major political parties. But the lowercase word democrat has a broader meaning: anyone anywhere in the world who believes people should govern themselves through free and fair elections.

Countries that embrace democratic principles typically hold regular elections, protect freedom of speech, and establish rules that apply equally to everyone, including leaders.