the Commonwealth

noun

1

: a U.S. state

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

the Commonwealth of Kentucky

2

: the countries that were once part of the British Empire

Examples of the Commonwealth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Following an executive order from Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro that puts up limits around data center development throughout the Commonwealth, Allegheny County is considering ways to restrict where these centers can be built. — Finch Walker, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

This marks the first losses related to the highly contagious virus within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 35 years. — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026

And why did the Commonwealth deny a request by Reddington, the defense attorney, to stipulate that Clancy killed her children, a formal acknowledgment of responsibility that would have focussed the trial proceedings on her criminal intent? — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026

Older sibling Tommy was a popular lightweight boxer, winning the Commonwealth belt, while another, Joe, has gone from professional golfer to coach. — Hannah Vanbiber, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for the Commonwealth

• bridewealth
• health
• stealth
• wealth
• telehealth