representative

representative — noun

1. someone you choose to speak and take action on your behalf or for your group or

1.nounB1
Definition

someone you choose to speak and take action on your behalf or for your group or company

Example

Roya was chosen as the student representative for the school's planning committee.

representative + for [organization/group]

The company sent a sales representative to visit potential clients in Southeast Asia.

sales representative — common compound noun

Common collocations
  • elected representative
  • trade representative
  • sales representative
  • official representative
  • representative of the people
  • representative for the region
Synonyms
  • delegate

    often used for political or conference contexts; implies being sent with a specific task

  • agent

    broader legal meaning; can act with authority on someone's behalf

  • spokesperson

    focuses on speaking publicly for a group, not necessarily making decisions

Antonyms
  • constituent

    the person or group that the representative acts for

Grammar Patterns

representative + of [group/person]

representative + for [company/organization]

Usage Note

Commonly followed by 'of' (representative of a group) or 'for' (representative for a company). The compound 'sales representative' is often shortened to 'rep' in informal business contexts.

Common Mistakes

She is a representative from the committee at the meeting.
She is a representative of the committee at the meeting.
use 'of' when stating which group the person represents.

2. a politician who serves in Congress's lower chamber after being elected by voter

2.nounB2
Definition

a politician who serves in Congress's lower chamber after being elected by voters in their home district

Example

Representative Christopher Williams from Ohio introduced a new bill on healthcare reform.

title: Representative [Name] + from [state]

Voters in the district will elect a new Representative in next month's election.

capitalized when used as a formal title

Common collocations
  • district representative
  • Representative from Texas
  • House Representative
  • serve as a Representative
  • elect a Representative
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

the Representative + from [state/district]

Representative [Name]

Usage Note

When used as a formal title before a name, 'Representative' is capitalized. The US House of Representatives has 435 voting members, each representing a congressional district for a two-year term.

Common Mistakes

A Representative is the same as a Senator.
A Representative serves in the House of Representatives, while a Senator serves in the Senate.
these are two different chambers of Congress.

3. a person, thing, or example that shows what a larger group or category is like

3.nounB1
Definition

a person, thing, or example that shows what a larger group or category is like

Example

The giant panda is a well-known representative of endangered mountain species.

representative + of [group] — showing what the group is like

This painting is a fine representative of the artist's early abstract style.

Common collocations
  • representative of its kind
  • good representative of
  • fine representative of
  • classic representative
Synonyms
  • example

    more general; does not carry the same weight of representing an entire group

  • specimen

    used mostly for scientific or collection contexts

Antonyms
  • exception

    something that does not follow the typical pattern

Grammar Patterns

representative + of [group/class]

Usage Note

This sense is often used with 'of' to connect the example to the group it represents. The noun can refer to either a person or a thing.

representative — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All three words describe something that shows what a group is like, but they differ in nuance. 'Typical' is the most general and common — it simply means something matches the usual pattern (a typical summer day). 'Characteristic' focuses on specific, defining features that make something recognizable (the characteristic smell of durian). 'Representative' is more deliberate: it suggests that the example was chosen or considered as a fair reflection of the whole (a representative sample). In everyday conversation, 'typical' is the safest choice. In formal or research contexts, 'representative' is preferred because it implies the example is not just common but also accurate and balanced. For example: 'This is a typical student dorm room' (common features) vs. 'This is a representative dorm room from our survey' (chosen as a fair example).

typical ↗characteristic ↗representative ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • representative sample
  • representative government
  • representative democracy
  • representative body
  • representative assembly

Adverbs

  • broadly representative
  • generally representative
  • fairly representative
  • highly representative

Phrases

  • serve as a representative
  • act as a representative
  • representative of the people

Prepositions

  • representative of

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'representative' comes from Latin 'repraesentare', meaning 'to present again or to show'. It is formed from 're-' (again) and 'praesentare' (to present). The word entered English in the 14th century through French, first as a verb meaning 'to bring to mind' or 'to symbolize'. By the 16th century, it was being used as a noun for someone who acts on behalf of others, and in the 17th century it became associated with elected political officials. The adjective sense developed alongside the noun.