representative
gb/ɹˌɛpɹɪzˈɛntɪtɪv/ us/ɹˌɛpɹɪzˈɛntɪtɪv/
B1
English
~ 1700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
Person who acts for others
A person who speaks or acts for other people.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a representative of [group/organization]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'representative' with 'representation'. The first is a person, the second is the act or result of representing.
Synonyms
delegate (Focuses more on being sent to represent a group, especially in meetings or conferences.)
|
spokesperson (Emphasizes speaking to the public or media on behalf of others.)
Antonyms
constituent (Refers to a person represented by an elected official, the opposite role.)
Collocations
company representative
|sales representative
|elected representative
|official representative
Themes
politics
|business
|communication
Examples
- She works as a sales representative for a software company.
- The elected representative spoke in parliament about the new law.
- Our company sent a representative to the trade fair.
- He is the official representative of the charity in this region.
Learner examples
- The man is a company representative.
- She is a representative in the local government.
- We met the school’s student representative.
- He is the official representative of our team.
adjective
B2
property
2
Typical of a group or kind
Being like the usual example of a group or thing.
Usage pattern:
[something] is representative of [group/type]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'representative' (adjective) with 'representation' (noun) or 'represent' (verb).
Synonyms
typical (More common and everyday; 'representative' can sound more formal or precise.)
|
emblematic (More literary; emphasizes symbolic representation.)
Antonyms
atypical (Means not typical or not a good example of the group.)
Collocations
representative sample
|representative figure
|representative example
Themes
description
|comparison
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The survey used a representative sample of the population.
- This painting is representative of his early style.
- Her story is representative of many immigrants’ experiences.
Learner examples
- This picture is representative of his work.
- The test group was representative of the whole city.
- Her style is representative of modern art.
Grammar
Dictionary form
representative
IPA
GB/ɹˌɛpɹɪzˈɛntɪtɪv/
US/ɹˌɛpɹɪzˈɛntɪtɪv/
Syllables & stress
rep - res - ent - at - ive (5 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (ent)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: representative
Noun
- Base: representative
- Plural: representatives
Word family
Forms
representatives
noun
Core family
represent
verb B1
representation
noun B1
Negative and opposite forms
unrepresentative
adjective
misrepresent
verb
misrepresentation
noun
Advanced or less common
representational
adjective
representativeness
noun
Expressions
elected representative
1/ɪlˈɛktɪd ɹˌɛpɹɪzˈɛntɪtɪv/
fixed phrase
Person chosen by vote to represent others
A person chosen by people’s votes to speak or act for them in government or another group.
Examples
- The elected representative promised to lower taxes.
- As an elected representative, she feels responsible for her community.
official representative
1/əfˈɪʃəl ɹˌɛpɹɪzˈɛntɪtɪv/
fixed phrase
formal
Formally appointed delegate or spokesperson
A person who has been formally chosen to speak or act for a group, company, or country.
Examples
- He is the official representative of our government at the meeting.
- The official representative signed the agreement on behalf of the company.
sales representative
1/sˈeɪlz ɹˌɛpɹɪzˈɛntɪtɪv/
fixed phrase
Company employee who sells goods/services
A person who sells things for a company and talks to customers for the company.
Examples
- I spoke with a sales representative about the new phone model.
- The sales representative will contact you to arrange a meeting.