a representation D of G is reducible <=> D is equivalent to a direct sum of 2 smaller dimensional representations of G. there exists M s.t. Forall g in G, D(g) = M^* |D1(g) 0|*M |0 D2(g)| If a representation D is not reducible, it is called irreducible. This is actually the definition of completely reducible but it is equivalent for all compact and finite groups.