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

Screech your outrage, ACC schools disrespected by just one bid and pound your shoes on a desk somewhere, Notre Dame haters, especially those in the commonwealth of Kentucky and in the sunny setting of Miami. —Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025

And in a night of firsts, Democratic challenger Jay Jones defeated Republican Jason Miyares to become the state’s first Black attorney general and complete a Democratic sweep of the commonwealth’s statewide posts. —Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025

In Virginia, Democrat Abigail Spanberger won to become the commonwealth’s first-ever female governor. —Jim Cramer, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025

As temperatures drop in the commonwealth, electricity costs will be on the rise for Kentuckians, and some low-income families may struggle to pay the bills amid the ongoing government shutdown. —Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 5 Nov. 2025

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