undemocratic
UK: ˌʌn.dɪˈmɒk.ræt.ɪk | US: ˌʌn.dɪˈmɑː.kræt.ɪk
adj. not adhering to or supporting democratic principles
adj. characterized by a lack of democracy
The word "undemocratic" combines the prefix "un-" (Old English "un-," meaning "not") with "democratic," derived from "democracy." "Democracy" originates from Greek "dēmokratia" (dēmos<people> + kratos<power>), meaning "rule by the people." Over time, "democratic" evolved to describe systems or behaviors aligned with democratic ideals, while "undemocratic" emerged as its antonym, explicitly negating those principles. The morpheme boundaries preserve the original spelling and logical segmentation.
The government's decision to suppress protests was widely criticized as undemocratic.
An undemocratic regime often restricts freedom of speech.
The new law was deemed undemocratic by opposition parties.
Critics argue that corporate lobbying creates an undemocratic influence on policy.
The election process was flawed and undemocratic, lacking transparency.