as in democracy
government in which the supreme power is held by the people and used by them directly or indirectly through representation when asked by a passerby what sort of government the constitutional convention had formulated for the new nation, Benjamin Franklin memorably replied, "A republic, if you can keep it"

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of republic On March 11, 1990, Lithuania became the first Soviet republic to declare its independence, which became official in 1991. Lucas Y. Tomlinson, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2025 These ideas are not luxuries, but the foundation of a free republic. Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025 Ten days later, soldiers from the republic under the rule of Pétion’s successor, Jean-Pierre Boyer, executed the king’s youngest son and heir to the throne. Marlene L. Daut september 22, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025 Leaders of the former Soviet republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan will also be in attendance. Michele Kelemen, NPR, 22 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for republic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for republic
democracy
Noun
  • If companies from industrialized democracies end up buying Chinese credits to meet their own compliance obligations, Beijing will not only dominate the hardware of the energy transition but also help govern its financial infrastructure.
    Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • In other democracies, such inability to drive through legislation would most likely be met by a confidence vote, perhaps the ousting of the head of the party of government and a general election.
    Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025

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“Republic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/republic. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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