Definition

1. Noun:
   • A political system where supreme power is held by the people through elected representatives: A form of government based on popular sovereignty and representation.
   • An association of sovereign states united by common interests and allegiance to a central authority: A voluntary grouping of independent nations, often sharing historical ties.
   • A politically organized community under one government; a state or nation: Refers to the body politic or the whole people of a nation.
   • The official title of certain U.S. states and territories: Used in the formal names of specific political entities.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The ancient republic was founded as a commonwealth. (The ancient state was established as a political system governed by its citizens.)
  • Many former British colonies are now members of the Commonwealth. (Many independent nations that were once British colonies are part of this voluntary association.)
  • The welfare of the commonwealth is the government's primary duty. (The well-being of the entire nation is the government's main responsibility.)
  • Kentucky is a commonwealth, not just a state. (Kentucky uses this specific term in its official title.)

Advanced Usage

• "The Commonwealth" (capitalized): Specifically refers to the Commonwealth of Nations, a political association of member states.
  • The Commonwealth Games are a major international sporting event.
• "Body of the commonwealth": A formal or literary way to refer to the collective citizenry or the state itself.
  • Laws are made for the good of the body of the commonwealth.

Variants and Related Words

• Commonweal (noun, archaic): The public good or welfare; synonymous with an older sense of "commonwealth."
  • He worked for the commonweal of all citizens.

Synonyms

• Republic: A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives.
• Federation: A group of states with a central government but independence in internal affairs.
• Nation: A large body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular state or territory.
• State: A nation or territory considered as an organized political community under one government.

Related Phrases

• Commonwealth citizen: A legal term often used within the Commonwealth of Nations to denote a citizen of a member country.
  • As a Commonwealth citizen, she had certain residency rights.

Related Idioms

• For the commonwealth: For the public good or benefit of all.
  • The policy was enacted for the commonwealth, not for private interests.

Noun

1. a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them
2. a world organization of autonomous states that are united in allegiance to a central power but are not subordinate to it or to one another
3. a politically organized body of people under a single government
   • the state has elected a new president
   • African nations
   • students who had come to the nation's capitol
   • the country's largest manufacturer
   • an industrialized land
4. the official name of some states in the United States (Massachusetts and Pennsylvania and Virginia and Kentucky) and associated territories (Puerto Rico)