tyranny of majority
Democracy's dark side
Tyranny of majority describes a situation where the will of the greater number overrides the rights or interests of a minority.
The phrase warns against unchecked democratic power—a majority vote can still produce unjust outcomes for those outvoted.
It appears in political philosophy, constitutional debates, and discussions of minority protections: The founders designed the Senate partly as a check against the tyranny of the majority.
- mob ruleDominance by unruly crowds
- popular willCollective public opinion
- democracyRule by the people
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- silencedRendered unable to speak
outvoted · trampled · dissent · individual rights · conformity · groupthink · herd mentality · masses · populism · ballot · crushing · voiceless · steamrolled · John Stuart Mill · referendum · plurality · marginalized · consensus
tyranny of majorityoligarchy
Rule by few
aristocracy · plutocracy · autocracy · dictatorship · technocracy
tyranny of majorityminority rights
Safeguards for underrepresented populations
constitutional protection · individual liberty · liberal democracy · constitutional democracy · rule of law
tyranny, tyrant, tyrants, tyrannies, tyrannical, tyrannically, tyrannous, tyrannize, tyrannized