undemocratic

Etymology

It is formed from English un- + democratic,^[2][3][4] the prefix meaning "not".^[3] The base adjective, recorded from about 1600, is from Middle French democratique and its source Medieval Latin democraticus,^[2][3] from Ancient Greek δημοκρατικός (dēmokratikós, “of or for democracy”), from δημοκρατία (dēmokratía, “popular government”).^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Not democratic: 1832, in Etymonline's dating.^[3] The first quotation in the OED, and Merriam-Webster's date, are from 1839, the OED's in T. Mitchell's introduction to Aristophanes' Frogs.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

The meaning has not changed: not in keeping with the principles or practice of democracy.^[5][6] An early American use, quoted by Etymonline from the New York Evening Post of 1834, calls patronage "a most undemocratic word".^[3] The adverb undemocratically followed in 1865, according to the 1989 edition of the OED.^[7][4]

Timeline

• 1832 – not democratic.^[3] The OED and Merriam-Webster date it to 1839.^[2][5]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Not democratic; not in keeping with the principles, practice or ideals of democracy: Critics called the postponed election undemocratic.^[6][5][4]

Word family

• undemocratically

Related words

• democratic
• democracy
• democrat

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
5. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. ^ a b Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
7. ^ Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press