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

Clancy’s supporters were divided, some holding out hope the Commonwealth’s highest court would intervene and others coming to accept what would end up being the inescapable conclusion. — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026

The state ranks first in union strength among state employees, according to a survey by the Commonwealth Foundation. — Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026

State health authorities who have been fighting the opioid crisis for decades are still surprised by the drop, said Evan Gumas, a senior research associate at the Commonwealth Fund. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 Sep. 2026

The Wimbledon men’s singles final typically represents the Princess of Wales’s final engagement before the summer break, although this year royal-watchers were treated to a whole-family appearance at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. — Stephanie Bridger-Linning, Vanity Fair, 1 Sep. 2026

Rhymes for the Commonwealth

• bridewealth
• health
• stealth
• wealth
• telehealth