commonwealth
noun
com·mon·wealth
ˈkä-mən-ˌwelth 
also -ˌweltth
1
2
: a state of the U.S.
—used officially of Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia
3
often Commonwealth
: a political unit having local autonomy but voluntarily united with the U.S.
—used officially of Puerto Rico and of the Northern Mariana Islands
4
often Commonwealth
: an association of self-governing autonomous states more or less loosely associated in a common allegiance (as to the British crown)
5
Commonwealth
a
: the English state from the death of Charles I in 1649 to the Restoration in 1660
6
Commonwealth
: a federal union of constituent states
—used officially of Australia
7
archaic
: commonweal sense 2
Examples of commonwealth in a Sentence
laws that will benefit all the citizens of the commonwealth
Recent Examples on the Web
Lawmakers in the commonwealth are also pushing a bill that would require the Kentucky State Police and local law enforcement agencies to take part in the 287(g) program, which allows for collaboration with federal immigration enforcement officials.
—
Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 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
Virginia Democrats appealed the ruling, with the commonwealth’s Supreme Court expected to either allow the referendum to go forward or uphold the lower court’s ruling.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 8 Feb. 2026
This fictional town is set in the same state (also a commonwealth) in which America’s early immigrants from England based their first permanent settlement in 1607.
—J. D. Biersdorfer, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for commonwealth
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.
Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 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
Virginia Democrats appealed the ruling, with the commonwealth’s Supreme Court expected to either allow the referendum to go forward or uphold the lower court’s ruling.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 8 Feb. 2026
This fictional town is set in the same state (also a commonwealth) in which America’s early immigrants from England based their first permanent settlement in 1607.
—J. D. Biersdorfer, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for commonwealth
Cite this Entry
“Commonwealth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commonwealth. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
commonwealth
noun
com·mon·wealth
-ˌwelth
1
: a political unit (as a nation or state)
2
: a state of the U.S.
—used officially of Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia
Legal Definition
commonwealth
noun
com·mon·wealth
ˈkä-mən-ˌwelth
1
: a nation, state, or other political unit: as
a
: one founded on law and united by compact or tacit agreement by the people for the common good
b
: one in which supreme authority is vested in the people
c
: republic
2
: a state of the U.S.
—used officially of Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia
3
often capitalized
: an association of self-governing autonomous states more or less loosely associated in a common allegiance (as to the British crown)
4
often capitalized
: a political unit having local autonomy but voluntarily united with the U.S.
—used officially of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
