ɪɡˈzɑːmpl̩ ɘɡˈzɐːmpɯ əɡˈzæmpl̩ ˌɪləˈstɹeɪʃən ˈɪnstəns ɪnˈtɜːpɹɪtə ɪnˈtɝpɹɪtɚ ˌɹɛpɹɪˈzɛnt(ət)ɪv ˌɹɛpɹɪˈzɛnt(ət)ɪv being or characteristic of government by representation in which citizens exercise power through elected officers and representatives representative government as defined by Abraham Lincoln is government of the people, by the people, for the people standing for something else the bald eagle is representative of the United States serving to represent or typify representative moviegoers a representative modern play an item of information that is typical of a class or group this patient provides a typical example of the syndrome there is an example on page 10 a member of the United States House of Representatives a person who represents others an advocate who represents someone else's policy or purpose the meeting was attended by spokespersons for all the major organs of government