representative

Having the main features of a larger group, so it gives a fair picture of that group.

• We interviewed a representative sample of students.
• These results are representative of the wider group.
• Was the survey representative of people in every age group?

How to use it: representative of something (The sample is representative of the whole population.)

Similar words: typical

Opposites: unrepresentative

Common phrases: representative sample, representative group

Showing what someone or something is like.

• This portrait is representative of her appearance.
• Is this essay representative of your usual writing?
• The photograph was hardly representative of the room we actually saw.

How to use it: representative of someone/something (Is this picture representative of how the building really looks?)

Common phrases: representative of something, representative image

A person who speaks or acts for a group or company.

• Speak to our sales representative.
• A union representative attended the meeting.
• The company sent two representatives to the conference.

How to use it: representative of something (A representative of the company answered our questions.); representative for something (She is the local representative for the union.)

Similar words: agent, spokesperson, delegate

Common phrases: sales representative, union representative, company representative

A person chosen to speak and vote for other people in a governing body.

• We elected a new representative.
• The representatives voted against the proposed law.
• She wrote to her local representative about the hospital closure.

Similar words: legislator, delegate

Common phrases: elected representative, local representative, state representative

Someone who officially speaks or acts for another person.

• Her legal representative answered the questions.
• He sent a representative to sign the contract.
• Only an authorized representative may collect the documents for you.

How to use it: representative of someone (The lawyer attended as a representative of the injured driver.)

Similar words: agent, proxy

Common phrases: legal representative, authorized representative, personal representative