as in state
a body of people composed of one or more nationalities usually with its own territory and government
laws that will benefit all the citizens of the commonwealth
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Recent Examples of commonwealth
In particular, Hobbes popularized the idea of generating a commonwealth in order to escape the uncertainty in a state of nature where self-preservation is fundamental.
—
Kenneth Andrew Andres Leonardo, The Conversation, 6 Mar. 2026
Former President Barack Obama is calling on voters in Virginia to support a ballot measure this spring that would change the commonwealth's constitution and cause new congressional district boundaries benefiting Democrats to be used in this fall's midterm elections.
—Hunter Woodall, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
The final makeup of Virginia’s state legislature is still unknown three months after the general election as a slew of appointments by Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) triggers a domino effect of special races across the commonwealth.
—Kendall Staton, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2026
This is also the difference between government and the larger idea of governance, which taps the energies and talents of whole communities for building the commonwealth, a reframing of democracy championed by groups like the Institute for Democracy in South Africa.
—Harry Boyte, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for commonwealth
Kenneth Andrew Andres Leonardo, The Conversation, 6 Mar. 2026
Former President Barack Obama is calling on voters in Virginia to support a ballot measure this spring that would change the commonwealth's constitution and cause new congressional district boundaries benefiting Democrats to be used in this fall's midterm elections.
—Hunter Woodall, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
The final makeup of Virginia’s state legislature is still unknown three months after the general election as a slew of appointments by Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) triggers a domino effect of special races across the commonwealth.
—Kendall Staton, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2026
This is also the difference between government and the larger idea of governance, which taps the energies and talents of whole communities for building the commonwealth, a reframing of democracy championed by groups like the Institute for Democracy in South Africa.
—Harry Boyte, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for commonwealth
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commonwealth
Noun
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Last week, the state legislature’s Joint Budget Committee proposed cutting funding to the Teacher Recruitment Education and Preparation, part of a host of cost-saving measures lawmakers are taking to address Colorado’s massive budget deficit.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
6 Apr. 2026
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Just last week, during the No Kings rally at the Boston Common, Campbell directly asked state residents to utilize the portal in order for her office to carry out prosecutions of federal agents.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Groypers believe that for decades America has prostrated itself to immigrants and foreign nations at the expense of its own languishing citizens.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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Meanwhile, drone incursions into neighboring countries -- among them NATO allies -- have raised concerns of the war spilling over into non-combatant nations.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Perhaps as a result, various European countries had introduced academic programs in the new field of music geragogy—the study of music-learning in old age.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
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Plus, targets in countries where people generally make lower incomes may be less likely to turn down job offers.—
Jessica Klein,
PC Magazine,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Commonwealth.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commonwealth. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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