commonwealth

noun

com·​mon·​wealth ˈkä-mən-ˌwelth 

 also  -ˌweltth

1

: a nation, state, or other political unit: such as

a

: one founded on law and united by compact or tacit agreement of the people for the common good

b

: one in which supreme authority is vested in the people

c

: republic

2

: a state of the U.S.

—used officially of Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia

3

often capitalized : a political unit having local autonomy but voluntarily united with the U.S.

—used officially of Puerto Rico and of the Northern Mariana Islands

4

often capitalized : an association of self-governing autonomous states more or less loosely associated in a common allegiance (as to the British crown)

5

capitalized

a

: the English state from the death of Charles I in 1649 to the Restoration in 1660

b

: protectorate sense 1b

6

capitalized : a federal union of constituent states

—used officially of Australia

7

archaic : commonweal sense 2

Synonyms

• country
• land
• nation
• sovereignty
• sovranty
• state

Examples of commonwealth in a Sentence

laws that will benefit all the citizens of the commonwealth

Recent Examples on the Web

Zoom in: Since the first legal bets were placed in the commonwealth in 2021, Virginians have placed the most bets in the fall and winter, per an Axios review of the data. —Karri Peifer, Axios, 7 Feb. 2025

What To Know Shapiro's is rooted in a series of strategic investments designed to tackle the commonwealth's most pressing issues, from economic development to public safety and education funding. —Claire Dickey, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025

His policies, especially cutting taxes, are also popular in the commonwealth, and Earle-Sears’s popularity is higher due to her support for them. —Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 27 Jan. 2025

Of course, the state’s senators, representatives and governor conduct the commonwealth’s business here. —Kim Foley MacKinnon, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 7

Kids Definition

commonwealth

noun

com·​mon·​wealth -ˌwelth 

1

: a political unit (as a nation or state)

2

: a state of the U.S.

—used officially of Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia

Legal Definition

commonwealth

noun

com·​mon·​wealth ˈkä-mən-ˌwelth 

1

: a nation, state, or other political unit: as

a

: one founded on law and united by compact or tacit agreement by the people for the common good

b

: one in which supreme authority is vested in the people

c

: republic

2

: a state of the U.S.

—used officially of Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia

3

often capitalized : an association of self-governing autonomous states more or less loosely associated in a common allegiance (as to the British crown)

4

often capitalized : a political unit having local autonomy but voluntarily united with the U.S.

—used officially of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands