commonwealth commonwealth /ˈkɑːmənˌwɛlθ/

noun

1. () A politically organized body of people under a single government  ( body politic , res publica , land , commonwealth , country , nation , state )
   a politically organized body of people under a single government
    The state has elected a new president
   the state has elected a new president
    African nations
   African nations
    Students who had come to the nation's capitol
   students who had come to the nation's capitol
    The country's largest manufacturer
   the country's largest manufacturer
    An industrialized land
   an industrialized land
   
   
2. () The official name of some states in the United States (Massachusetts and Pennsylvania and Virginia and Kentucky) and associated territories (Puerto Rico)  ( commonwealth )
   the official name of some states in the United States (Massachusetts and Pennsylvania and Virginia and Kentucky) and associated territories (Puerto Rico)
   
3. A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them  ( commonwealth , democracy , republic )
   a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them
     The republic held elections to choose its leaders.
   The republic held elections to choose its leaders.
   
   
4. 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  ( commonwealth )
   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