commonwealth

Noun

commonwealth (plural commonwealths)

1. (obsolete) The well-being of a community.
2. The entirety of a (secular) society, a polity, a state.
   • Remeber I saye yt ye were at that tyme wt oute Christ and were reputed aliantes from the comen welth [πολιτεία (politeía)] of Israel and were straugers fro the testamentes of promes and had no hope and were with out god in this worlde.1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Ephesians ij:[12]
   • I'th' commonwealth I would by contraries
     Execute all things, for no kind of traffic
     Would I admit; no name of magistrate[…]1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published...
3. Republic. Often capitalized, as Commonwealth.
   • Be it declared and enacted by this present Parliament and by the Authoritie of the same That the People of England and of all the Dominions and Territoryes thereunto belonging are and shall be and are hereby constituted, made, established, and confirmed to be a Commonwealth and free State And shall...1649, Act of the Long Parliament

Proper noun (1) capitalized: Commonwealth

UK/ˈkɒmənˌwɛlθ/IPA[ˈkɔːmənˌwelθ]

the Commonwealth

1. The Commonwealth of Nations, a loose confederation of nations based around the former British Empire.
   • Mozambique joined the Commonwealth in 1995, although it had not been a part of the British Empire.
   • Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, being former British colonies, are the only Southeast Asian member countries of the Commonwealth.
2. (UK, historical) The Commonwealth of England (1649–1653); the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland (1653–1660).
   • Near-synonyms: Protectorate; Interregnum

   Synonyms:

   Protectorate, Interregnum

3. (Australia) Australia, the Commonwealth of Australia, often referring to its federal government.
   • Mr. Martin was found guilty of defrauding the Commonwealth by making false welfare claims.
4. Kentucky, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, often referring to its government.
5. Massachusetts, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, often referring to its government.
6. Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, often referring to its government.
7. Virginia, the Commonwealth of Virginia, often referring to its government.

Proper noun (2) capitalized: Commonwealth

UK/ˈkɒmənˌwɛlθ/IPA[ˈkɔːmənˌwelθ]

Commonwealth

1. A barangay of Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
2. A barangay of Rosario, Northern Samar, Philippines.
3. A barangay of Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines.