Lýðræðislegt

Lýðræðislegt is Icelandic an adjective meaning "democratic." It describes systems, institutions, processes or values that are based on or aligned with democracy, such as open participation, equal voting rights and the rule of law. The word is formed from lýðræði, democracy, with the adjectival suffix -slegt, yielding the neuter singular form lýðræðislegt. In Icelandic, related forms include lýðræðilegur (masculine), lýðræðileg (feminine), and lýðræðisleg (plural or other gendered forms), depending on number and case.

Grammatical use follows Icelandic adjective agreement: lýðræðislegt modifies neuter nouns, while the gendered forms accompany masculine or feminine nouns. For example, lýðræðislegt samfélag (a democratic society) and lýðræðislegt stjórnarfar (a democratic form of government). The term is common in political science, sociology and everyday discourse when describing institutions, procedures or norms that reflect democratic principles.

Usage and nuance: lýðræðislegt is often contrasted with non-democratic or autocratic terms, emphasizing participation, accountability and protection of civil liberties. While lýðræði is the noun "democracy," lýðræðislegt serves as the corresponding adjective to characterize qualities, processes or artifacts as democratic. In translations, lýðræðislegt generally corresponds to “democratic” in English, and it appears in both formal and informal Icelandic contexts.