commonwealth Definition
- 1a group of countries, states, or territories that are politically linked together and share the same government
- 2a political unit having local autonomy but voluntarily united with the US
- 3a nation, state, or other political entity founded on law and united by a compact of the people for the common good
Using commonwealth: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "commonwealth" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The Commonwealth of Nations is an organization of 54 member states, mostly former territories of the British Empire.
Example
Puerto Rico is a self-governing commonwealth in association with the United States.
Example
The Commonwealth of Virginia was one of the original 13 colonies that formed the United States.
commonwealth Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for commonwealth
Antonyms for commonwealth
Phrases with commonwealth
a political association of 54 member states, nearly all former territories of the British Empire
Example
The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth.
a regional intergovernmental organization of nine members, formed during the dissolution of the Soviet Union
Example
The Commonwealth of Independent States was created in December 1991.
a sovereign state within the Commonwealth of Nations that has the British monarch as its head of state
Example
Canada is a Commonwealth realm, with Queen Elizabeth II as its monarch.
Origins of commonwealth
from Middle English 'commune welthe', meaning 'public welfare'
Summary: commonwealth in Brief
The term 'commonwealth' [ˈkɒmənwelθ] refers to a group of countries, states, or territories that are politically linked together and share the same government. It can also refer to a political unit having local autonomy but voluntarily united with the US, or a nation, state, or other political entity founded on law and united by a compact of the people for the common good. Examples include the Commonwealth of Nations, Puerto Rico, and the Commonwealth of Virginia.