Definitions for Commonwealth
ˈkɒm ənˌwɛlθCom·mon·wealth

Princeton's WordNet(3.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. commonwealth(noun)

   the official name of some states in the United States (Massachusetts and Pennsylvania and Virginia and Kentucky) and associated territories (Puerto Rico)

2. state, nation, country, land, commonwealth, res publica, body politic(noun)

   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"

3. commonwealth(noun)

   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

4. democracy, republic, commonwealth(noun)

   a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

Wiktionary(3.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. commonwealth(Noun)

   A form of government, named for the concept that everything that is not owned by specific individuals or groups is owned collectively by everyone in the governmental unit, as opposed to a state, where the state itself owns such things.

2. commonwealth(Noun)

   Approximately, a republic.

   May 19, 1649 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. Act of the Long Parliament.

3. Commonwealth(ProperNoun)

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

4. Commonwealth(ProperNoun)

   Australia, the Commonwealth of Australia,

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

5. Commonwealth(ProperNoun)

   Kentucky, the Commonwealth of Kentucky,

6. Commonwealth(ProperNoun)

   Massachusetts, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,

7. Commonwealth(ProperNoun)

   Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,

8. Commonwealth(ProperNoun)

   Virginia, the Commonwealth of Virginia,

Origin: Originally "common-wealt" or "common weal". From 15th century, a compound of common (in the sense "public") and wealth (in the old sense "well-being"). Expanded in the 17th century to mean "a state in which the supreme power is vested in the people; a republic or democratic state." (OED)

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Commonwealth(noun)

   a state; a body politic consisting of a certain number of men, united, by compact or tacit agreement, under one form of government and system of laws

2. Commonwealth(noun)

   the whole body of people in a state; the public

3. Commonwealth(noun)

   specifically, the form of government established on the death of Charles I., in 1649, which existed under Oliver Cromwell and his son Richard, ending with the abdication of the latter in 1659

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Commonwealth

   Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic". More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations. Most notably, the Commonwealth of Nations, an association primarily of former members of the British Empire, is often referred to as simply "the Commonwealth".

Suggested Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. commonwealth

   Song lyrics by commonwealth -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by commonwealth on the Lyrics.com website.

Etymology and Origins(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Commonwealth

   In theatrical parlance, a sharing out of the proceeds of the week’s performances after all expenses have been deducted. This generally happens when the manager has decamped with the entire takings, and left his company stranded.

British National Corpus

1. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Commonwealth' in Nouns Frequency: #2043

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Commonwealth in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Commonwealth in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of Commonwealth in a Sentence

1. Alexander Pope:

   A family is but too often a commonwealth of malignants.

2. Orrin Hatch:

   The commonwealth's problems will not be solved overnight.

3. Bruce Castor:

   I knew I had bound the commonwealth as a representative of the sovereign.

4. Alan Silvia:

   We just want to remind people that hate will not be tolerated in the Commonwealth.

5. Elizabeth II:

   It is easy enough to define what the Commonwealth is not. Indeed this is quite a popular pastime.

Images & Illustrations of Commonwealth

Popularity rank by frequency of use