However, it can be used in various forms such as the one we all know and love "parliamentary democracy" or it could be a "presidential democracy" or a "representative democracy" make of that what you will, which many do.
I imagine there could be a "direct democracy", but no doubt much easier with a smaller group than, say, a big, proud, island country.
Some might suggest that we have a "liberal democracy" or even a "participatory democracy" although not being able to kick-out your MP without a hugely time consuming, up-hill struggle or only vote for him/her once every five years or so is not quite the same a being able to get an elected representative out for a breach of his/her duty and responsibility to the electorate say, when that representative lies in parliament. Even in the mother of all parliaments, that has been known to happen, remember Anthony Eden? Some might say it is very much on the increase, but there is unfortunately next to nothing you can do about it. Is that is a good form of democracy? Your craven representatives in power need only be really concerned about you every five years or so.
Not sure how democratic it is when your elected representatives help their mates to line their own pockets by being given an unfair advantage of and access to government funding schemes and money.
There seem to be an awful number of and a huge variety of shades in all of this and in our democracies. Obviously, we do not want to go anywhere near the German Democratic Republic, more fondly known as East Germany. Not a democracy as we know it, Jim, but some would have sworn blind it was.