demokratisch

Demokratisch is an adjective in German meaning related to democracy, and it is used to describe processes, institutions, or values that reflect democratic principles. It can apply to elections, governance, law, culture, and public discourse, indicating that participation, accountability, and the rule of law are emphasized.

The term derives from the Greek words demos (the people) and kratos (rule or power). It entered German via historical use in political and philosophical writings and is formed with the common adjectival suffix -isch, producing forms such as demokratische, demokratischer, and demokratisches.

In political and social contexts, demokratisch denotes systems or practices that emphasize popular sovereignty, free and fair elections, protection of fundamental rights, pluralism, and the rule of law. It is often used to distinguish democratic arrangements from autocratic or totalitarian ones, and it can describe processes (demokratischer Entscheidungsprozess), institutions (demokratische Verfassung, demokratisches Parlament), or cultural norms (demokratische Beteiligung).

Grammar and usage notes: as an attributive adjective, demokratisch declines like other German adjectives (demokratischer Prozess, demokratische Wahlen, demokratisches Gesetz). It can also function adverbially in phrases such as auf demokratische Weise, though in many contexts it remains part of an adjectival construction.

See also: Demokratie, Demokratisierung, demokratische Rechte. The term is widely used across German-speaking regions to discuss governance, civic participation, and the functioning of political systems.