What does "republican" mean?
Someone who favors a republic as a form of government.
Republican
/ɹɪˈpʌblɪkən/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Someone who favors a republic as a form of government.
- Grammar: republican is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: absolute, advocate, aristocratic, authoritarian.
- Useful contrasts: blue, carolean, imperial system.
- Usage evidence: In the past I used to vote for the Democratic ticket, but from now on I'll climb on the Republican bandwagon.
How to use "republican"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "republican" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "republican" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "republican" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "republican" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "republican" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "absolute" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "republican", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Someone who favors a republic as a form of government.
"Sir, there is one Mrs Macaulay in this town, a great republican. One day when I was at her house, I put on a very grave countenance, and said to her, 'Madam, I am now become a convert to your way of thinking. I am convinced that all mankind are upon an equal footing...'"
- 2 A member or supporter of the Republican Party, the more right-wing of the two main political parties in the United States. US
"Famine, pestilence, war… War! I like it! When did you become a Republican."
- 3 an advocate of a republic (usually in opposition to a monarchy) wordnet
- 4 Synonym of American cliff swallow.
- 5 An Irish nationalist; a proponent of a united Ireland. British, Ireland
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 a member of the Republican Party wordnet
- 7 Synonym of sociable weaver.
- 8 A member or supporter of Fianna Fáil, a centre-right party in Ireland. Ireland, archaic
"It was confident both that the Republicans would never put it out to put Cosgrave in, and that Fine Gael was equally against the Republicans."
- 9 A supporter of the government or left-wing side in the Spanish Civil War. historical
- 10 A member of Les Républicains, a right-wing party in France.
- 11 A member of Die Republikaner, a far-right party in Germany.
Adjective
- 1 Advocating or supporting a republic as a form of government, advocating or supporting republicanism.
"Republican ideology had no obvious institutional focus and ideological carrier as was the case with the discourse of reason (the monarchy) and the discourse of law (the parlements)."
- 2 Of or pertaining to the Republican Party of the United States. US
"There are Libertarian, Republican and Democratic nominees running for office right now."
- 3 Of or belonging to a republic.
"The Roman emperors were republican magistrates named by the senate."
- 4 Of or pertaining to the Republic of China's tenure on the Chinese mainland (1912-1949).
- 5 Alternative letter-case form of Republican. alt-of
Show 1 more definition
- 6 Alternative letter-case form of republican. alt-of
Adjective
- 1 having the supreme power lying in the body of citizens entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them or characteristic of such government wordnet
- 2 relating to or belonging to the Republican Party wordnet
Example
"In the past I used to vote for the Democratic ticket, but from now on I'll climb on the Republican bandwagon."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "republican"?
Common synonyms include: absolute, advocate, aristocratic, authoritarian, autocratic, autonomous.
How do you use "republican" in a sentence?
In the past I used to vote for the Democratic ticket, but from now on I'll climb on the Republican bandwagon.
How do you pronounce "republican"?
Pronounced /ɹɪˈpʌblɪkən/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From republic + -an, partly after French républicain.
Etymology 2
From republican (“favoring a republic”).