Phrase guide

proportional representation

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A voting principle aimed at securing a close match between the percentage of votes that groups of candidates (usually political parties) obtain in elections, and the percentage of seats they receive in the elected body.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

representation of all parties in proportion to their popular vote

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: representation

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

23 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 比例代表制 (bǐlìdàibiǎozhì) — voting principle
  • Czech: poměrný systém — voting principle
  • Dutch: evenredige vertegenwoordiging — voting principle
  • Finnish: suhteellinen vaalitapa — voting principle
  • French: représentation proportionnelle — voting principle
  • Georgian: პროპორციული წარმომადგენლობა (ṗroṗorciuli c̣armomadgenloba) — voting principle
  • Georgian: პროპორციული საარჩევნო სისტემა (ṗroṗorciuli saarčevno sisṭema) — voting principle
  • German: Verhältniswahl — voting principle
  • German: Proporzwahl — voting principle
  • Greek: αναλογική αντιπροσώπευση (analogikí antiprosópefsi) — voting principle
  • Indonesian: perwakilan proporsional — voting principle
  • Indonesian: perwakilan berimbang — voting principle
  • Irish: ionadaíocht chionmhar — voting principle
  • Italian: rappresentazione proporzionale — voting principle
  • Japanese: 比例代表制 (hireidaihyōsei) — voting principle
  • Korean: 비례대표제 (biryedaepyoje) — voting principle
  • Malay: perwakilan berkadar — voting principle
  • Polish: ordynacja proporcjonala — voting principle
  • Portuguese: representação proporcional — voting principle
  • Romanian: reprezentare proporțională — voting principle
  • Russian: пропорциональная избирательная система (proporcionalʹnaja izbiratelʹnaja sistema) — voting principle
  • Spanish: representación proporcional — voting principle
  • Swedish: proportionellt val — voting principle