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

5

Commonwealth

a

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

b

: protectorate sense 1b

6

Commonwealth : a federal union of constituent states

—used officially of Australia

7

archaic : commonweal sense 2

Synonyms of commonwealth

• state
• nation
• country

Examples of commonwealth in a Sentence

laws that will benefit all the citizens of the commonwealth

Recent Examples on the Web

The commonwealth argued these details support a narrative that the scene was staged to mislead investigators. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 20 Jan. 2026

It should also be flown at half-staff on all federal facilities in the state, congressional district, territory, or commonwealth of these officials. —Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 18 Jan. 2026

Spanberger’s inauguration as the state’s 75th governor is a historic first: Only men have held the post since Virginia first became a commonwealth in 1776. —Olivia Diaz, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026

The primary materials the team selected for swabbing and analysis were not the most appropriate for attempting to reconstruct Leonardo’s DNA, said Francesca Fiorani, commonwealth professor of art history at the University of Virginia. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 16 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 7

Rhymes for commonwealth

• telehealth
• bridewealth
• health
• stealth
• wealth

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