republicanism
Americannoun
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republican government.
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republican principles or adherence to them.
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(initial capital letter) the principles or policy of the Republican Party.
noun
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the principles or theory of republican government
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support for a republic
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(often capital) support for a Republican Party or for the Irish Republican Army
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of republicanism
First recorded in 1680–90; republican + -ism
Explanation
Republicanism is the political belief that the best form of government is one in which citizens choose their representatives and leaders through free elections. In the U.S., the Founding Fathers were proponents of republicanism. In the United States, republicanism is occasionally used to mean "ideas or policies of the Republican party," but the definition of the word is general more broad. The principles of republicanism can be held by members of any political party: as long as you support the concept of representative government by citizens who actively participate in it, you're a fan of republicanism. The word comes from republic and its Latin root, respublica which means "commonwealth or public interest."
Vocabulary lists containing republicanism
STAAR U.S. History 1
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Government and Citizenship (Grade 8)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Trump has realigned the parties in a way that wasn’t there before,” said Geoffrey Kabaservice, author of “Rule and Ruin,” a history of modern Republicanism.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 19, 2024
Hundreds of activists, operatives and rank-and-file conservatives attended and tested their theories of Republicanism after Trump.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 23, 2023
In his time, he represented a progressive Republicanism that challenged his more conservative successor, President William Howard Taft, at the 1912 GOP convention.
From Slate • Jul. 3, 2023
Arthur's story includes acting roles, astrology, interior design for Jacqueline Kennedy, involvement with Irish Republicanism and an affair with gay rights activist and socialist Edward Carpenter.
From BBC • Nov. 5, 2022
I am afraid these fantastic French fools will bring Republicanism into contempt.
From Records of Later Life by Kemble, Fanny
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
