Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Commonwealth

//ˈkɑmənˌwɛlθ// name, noun

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    The Commonwealth of Nations, a loose confederation of nations based around the former British Empire.

    "Mozambique joined the Commonwealth in 1995, although it had not been a part of the British Empire."

  2. 2
    A barangay of Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
  3. 3
    The Commonwealth of England (1649–1653); the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland (1653–1660). British, historical

    "Near-synonyms: Protectorate; Interregnum"

  4. 4
    A barangay of Rosario, Northern Samar, Philippines.
  5. 5
    Australia, the Commonwealth of Australia, often referring to its federal government. Australia

    "Mr. Martin was found guilty of defrauding the Commonwealth by making false welfare claims."

Show 5 more definitions
  1. 6
    A barangay of Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines.
  2. 7
    Kentucky, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, often referring to its government.
  3. 8
    Massachusetts, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, often referring to its government.
  4. 9
    Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, often referring to its government.
  5. 10
    Virginia, the Commonwealth of Virginia, often referring to its government.
Noun
  1. 1
    The well-being of a community. obsolete
  2. 2
    a politically organized body of people under a single government wordnet
  3. 3
    The entirety of a (secular) society, a polity, a state.

    "Remeber I saye yt ye were at that tyme wt oute Christ and were reputed aliantes from the comen welth [πολιτεία (politeía)] of Israel and were straugers fro the testamentes of promes and had no hope and were with out god in this worlde."

  4. 4
    a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them wordnet
  5. 5
    Republic. Often capitalized, as Commonwealth.

    "1649, Act of the Long Parliament Be it declared and enacted by this present Parliament and by the Authoritie of the same That the People of England and of all the Dominions and Territoryes thereunto belonging are and shall be and are hereby constituted, made, established, and confirmed to be a Commonwealth and free State And shall from henceforth be Governed as a Commonwealth and Free State by the supreame Authoritie of this Nation, the Representatives of the People in Parliam[ent] and by such as they shall appoint and constitute as Officers and Ministers under them for the good of the People and that without any King or House of Lords."

Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    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 wordnet
  2. 7
    the official name of some states in the United States (Massachusetts and Pennsylvania and Virginia and Kentucky) and associated territories (Puerto Rico) wordnet

Etymology

From common (“public”) + wealth (“well-being”). From c. 1450 as common wele (commonweal). In the form common-wealth (common welthe) from c. 1520, used by Tyndale in the sense "secular society" in particular, for which other authors preferred publike weal. Also from the 1520s treated as a synonym or loan-translation of res publica (republic) (Rollison 2017:67f).

See also for "commonwealth"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: commonwealth