the belief in freedom and equality between people, or a system of government based on this belief, in which power is either held by elected representatives or directly by the people themselves

The government has promised to uphold the principles of democracy. 政府承诺将坚持民主的原则。

The early 1990s saw the spread of democracy in Eastern Europe. 20世纪90年代初，民主思想在东欧迅速传播。

a country in which power is held by elected representatives

Few of the Western democracies still have a royal family. 西方民主国家鲜有保留皇室者。