- commonwealth
- commonwealth [käm′ənwelth΄]n.[ME commun welthe: see COMMON & WEALTH]1. the people of a nation or state; body politic2.a) a nation or state in which there is self-government; democracy or republicb) a federation of states [the Commonwealth of Australia ]: Commonwealth is also the official designation of Puerto Rico, in its special status under the U.S. government☆ 3. loosely any state of the U.S.; strictly, Ky., Mass., Pa., or Va., which were so designated in their first constitutions4. a group of people united by common interests5. Obs. the general welfare; commonweal——————the Commonwealth or the Commonwealth of Nations1. the government in England under the Cromwells and Parliament from 1649 to 1660: see also PROTECTORATE2. association of independent nations (53 in September, 2004), all former components of the British Empire, united for purposes of consultation and mutual assistance: all members acknowledge the British sovereign as symbolic head of the association: in full the Commonwealth of Nations
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.