republic

republic

noun

Definition of REPUBLIC

government in which the supreme power is held by the people and used by them directly or indirectly through representation <when asked by a passerby what sort of government the constitutional convention had formulated for the new nation, Benjamin Franklin memorably replied, “A republic, if you can keep it”>

Synonyms republic, self-government, self-rule

Related Words pure democracy; home rule, self-determination; autonomy, sovereignty (also sovranty)

Near Antonyms despotism, dictatorship, monarchy, monocracy, totalitarianism, tyranny