representativ

Representativ is an adjective used in several Germanic languages, notably Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish, meaning “representative” or “typical.” It can describe a person who acts on behalf of a group, or describe something that reflects the characteristics of a larger population, such as a sample in research.

The word originates from Latin repraesentare via Old French représenter, and arrived in Germanic languages with different spellings and diacritics. In German it appears as repräsentativ; in Swedish and Norwegian as representativ; in Danish as repræsentativ. The neuter form in these languages often takes -t (representativt) when modifying a neuter noun.

In statistics and social research, representativ is common in the compound “representative sample” or “representative survey.” Such a sample is intended to mirror the structure of the population, enabling generalization of results. Poor sampling can threaten representativeness and bias conclusions.

In many contexts, the term is used to describe a typical example or person who stands in for a group. For instance, a representative case can illustrate common features of a broader phenomenon.

See also: representativeness, representative, repräsentativ, repræsentativ.