commonwealth
/ˈkɑmənˌwɛlθ/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: commonwealths
Sense 1
Meaning · English
The entirety of a (secular) society, a polity, a state.
Noun
Examples
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.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Republic. Often capitalized, as Commonwealth.
Noun
Examples
1649, Act of the Long Parliament
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 Commo
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “commonwealth” mean?
The entirety of a (secular) society, a polity, a state.
Is “commonwealth” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.