Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A nation occupying the entire Australian continent: The Commonwealth of Australia is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The Commonwealth of Australia was established on January 1, 1901.
  • Canberra is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Advanced Usage

• "The Commonwealth": When used in an Australian context, "the Commonwealth" can be a shortened, formal reference to the Commonwealth of Australia.
  • The law was passed by the Parliament of the Commonwealth.

Variants and Related Words

• Australia (n): The common short name for the Commonwealth of Australia.
  • I am traveling to Australia next month.
• Australian (adj): Relating to the Commonwealth of Australia.
  • She holds an Australian passport.
• Commonwealth (n, capitalized): When used alone, it can refer to the Commonwealth of Nations, of which Australia is a member, or specifically to Australia in a formal domestic context (e.g., Commonwealth law).

Synonyms

• Australia: The most frequent and general synonym.
• Oz (n, informal): A colloquial name for Australia.

Related Phrases

• Commonwealth Government: Refers specifically to the federal government of Australia, as distinct from state or territory governments.
  • The Commonwealth Government is responsible for national defense.

Noun

1. a nation occupying the whole of the Australian continent; Aboriginal tribes are thought to have migrated from southeastern Asia 20,000 years ago; first Europeans were British convicts sent there as a penal colony