ontegenwoordige

Onttegenwoordige is a Dutch adjective meaning not represented or lacking representation. It is formed from the verb vertegenwoordigen (to represent) with the prefix ont-, a combination that in Dutch can express negation or removal. The form is grammatically valid but relatively rare in everyday language, and it appears mainly in formal, legal, philosophical, or theoretical writing.

In practice, the same idea is usually conveyed with wording such as niet vertegenwoordigd (not represented) or ondervertegenwoordigd (underrepresented), depending on the nuance. Onttegenwoordige can be used to indicate the absence of representation within a system, body, or discourse—for example when a group or perspective is not included in decision-making processes, policy discussions, or analytical models. It may also appear in discussions about representation in legislatures, juries, or data samples, where certain elements are missing or excluded.

Because the prefix ont- can imply a fundamental absence, the term carries a strong, specific sense of non-representation. However, it is not a productive or common everyday construction, and its use may require definition or clarification within the text to avoid ambiguity.

See also: ondervertegenwoordigd, niet vertegenwoordigd, representatie, vertegenwoordigen.