de|mer|it /diː me r I t/ (demerits ) N‑COUNT [usu pl, usu with poss] The demerits of something or someone are their faults or disadvantages. [FORMAL ] □ …articles debating the merits and demerits of the three candidates.
demi- /de mi-/ PREFIX Demi- is used at the beginning of some words to refer to something equivalent to half of the object or amount indicated by the rest of the word.
demi|god /de migɒd/ (demigods )
1 N‑COUNT In mythology, a demigod is a less important god, especially one who is half god and half human.
2 N‑COUNT If you describe a famous or important person such as a politician, writer, or musician as a demigod , you mean that you disapprove of the way in which people admire them and treat them like a god. [DISAPPROVAL ]
de|mili|ta|rize /diː m I l I təra I z/ (demilitarizes , demilitarizing , demilitarized ) in BRIT, also use demilitarise VERB To demilitarize an area means to ensure that all military forces are removed from it. □ [V n] He said the U.N. had made remarkable progress in demilitarizing the region. ● de|mili|ta|ri|za|tion /diː m I l I təra I ze I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ Demilitarization of the country was out of the question.
de|mise /d I ma I z/ N‑SING [usu with poss] The demise of something or someone is their end or death. [FORMAL ] □ …the demise of the reform movement.
demo /de moʊ/ (demos , demoing , demoed )
1 N‑COUNT A demo is a demonstration by a group of people to show their opposition to something or their support for something. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ …an anti-racist demo.
2 N‑COUNT A demo is a demonstration in which someone shows you how to do something or how it works. [INFORMAL ] □ 'Simply lift your left foot over your right and back again,' he said, giving me a quick demo. □ You can watch product demos on their website.
3 VERB If you demo something, you demonstrate how to do it or how it works. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n] She will demo recipes on stage.
4 N‑COUNT [oft N n] A demo is a CD or tape with a sample of someone's music recorded on it. [INFORMAL ] □ He listened to one of my demo tapes.
de|mob /diː mɒb/ N‑UNCOUNT Someone's demob is their release from the armed forces. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ I didn't get back to Brussels until after my demob.
de|mobbed /diːmɒ bd/ V-PASSIVE When soldiers are demobbed , they are released from the armed forces. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [be V -ed] I'm still in the air force, though I'll be demobbed in a couple of months. □ [V -ed] …housing and retraining demobbed soldiers.
de|mo|bi|lize /diː moʊ b I la I z/ (demobilizes , demobilizing , demobilized ) in BRIT, also use demobilise VERB If a country or armed force demobilizes its troops, or if its troops demobilize , its troops are released from service and allowed to go home. □ [V n] Both sides have agreed to demobilize 70% of their armies. □ [V ] It is unlikely that the rebels will agree to demobilise. ● de|mo|bi|li|za|tion /diː moʊ b I la I ze I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ …the demobilisation of a 100,000 strong army.
de|moc|ra|cy ◆◆◇ /d I mɒ krəsi/ (democracies )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Democracy is a system of government in which people choose their rulers by voting for them in elections. □ …the spread of democracy in Eastern Europe. □ …the pro-democracy movement.
2 N‑COUNT A democracy is a country in which the people choose their government by voting for it. □ The new democracies face tough challenges.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Democracy is a system of running organizations, businesses, and groups in which each member is entitled to vote and take part in decisions. □ …the union's emphasis on industrial democracy.
demo|crat ◆◆◇ /de məkræt/ (democrats )
1 N‑COUNT A Democrat is a member or supporter of a particular political party which has the word 'democrat' or 'democratic' in its title, for example the Democratic Party in the United States. □ …a senior Christian Democrat. □ The Congressman is a Democrat from New York.
2 N‑COUNT A democrat is a person who believes in the ideals of democracy, personal freedom, and equality. □ This is the time for democrats and not dictators.
demo|crat|ic ◆◆◇ /de məkræ t I k/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A democratic country, government, or political system is governed by representatives who are elected by the people. □ The country returned to democratic rule after a series of military governments. ● demo|crati|cal|ly /de məkræ t I kli/ ADV [ADV adj] □ That June, Yeltsin became Russia's first democratically elected President.
2 ADJ Something that is democratic is based on the idea that everyone should have equal rights and should be involved in making important decisions. □ Education is the basis of a democratic society. ● demo|crati|cal|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ This committee will enable decisions to be made democratically.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] Democratic is used in the titles of some political parties. □ …the Social Democratic Party.
de|moc|ra|tize /d I mɒ krəta I z/ (democratizes , democratizing , democratized ) in BRIT, also use democratise VERB If a country or a system is democratized , it is made democratic. [JOURNALISM ] □ [V n] …a further need to democratize the life of society as a whole. ● de|moc|ra|ti|za|tion /d I mɒ krəta I ze I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ …the democratisation of Eastern Europe.
de|mo|graph|ic /de məgræ f I k/ (demographics )