representatív

Representatív is an adjective used in several languages, including Hungarian, to describe something that represents or characterizes a larger group, category, or concept. It conveys a sense of typicality or adequacy in representing underlying properties, rather than being a literal copy. In discourse, a representative element is one that can stand in for the whole with respect to the relevant attributes.

Etymology and spelling variants vary by language, but the idea is shared across contexts. The term traces back to Latin and has entered modern European languages through French and English, among others. In Hungarian usage, related forms such as reprezentatív or representatív appear, both conveying the same core meaning of representative or typical.

In statistics and research, the concept is central to sampling. A reprezentatív (representative) minta is one that accurately mirrors the population from which it is drawn, across key characteristics like age, gender, or region. Achieving representativitás, or representativeness, is essential for drawing valid inferences and for ensuring external validity of study findings.

Beyond formal methods, the term also appears in everyday language to denote a representative example or case. A representatív példa can illustrate common features of a larger set, making complex ideas more understandable. The word is widely used in journalism, sociology, market research, and design to signal that a choice or result adequately reflects the intended subject.

See also: representation, representativeness, sampling.