republic

[ ri-puhb-lik ]

noun

1. a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them.
2. any body of persons viewed as a commonwealth.
3. a state in which the head of government is not a monarch or other hereditary head of state.
4. (initial capital letter) any of the five periods of republican government in France. Compare First Republic, Second Republic, Third Republic, Fourth Republic, Fifth Republic.
5. (initial capital letter, italics) a philosophical dialogue (4th century b.c.) by Plato dealing with the composition and structure of the ideal state.

republic

/ rɪˈpʌblɪk /

noun

1. a form of government in which the people or their elected representatives possess the supreme power
2. a political or national unit possessing such a form of government
3. a constitutional form in which the head of state is an elected or nominated president
4. any community or group that resembles a political republic in that its members or elements exhibit a general equality, shared interests, etc

   the republic of letters

republic

1. A form of government in which power is explicitly vested in the people, who in turn exercise their power through elected representatives. Today, the terms republic and are virtually interchangeable, but historically the two differed. Democracy implied direct rule by the people, all of whom were equal, whereas republic implied a system of government in which the will of the people was mediated by representatives, who might be wiser and better educated than the average person. In the early American republic, for example, the requirement that voters own property and the establishment of institutions such as the Electoral College were intended to cushion the government from the direct expression of the popular will.

Other Words From

• semi·re·public noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of republic¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from French république, Middle French, from Latin rēs pūblica, equivalent to rēs “thing, entity” ( rebus ( def ) ) + pūblica public

Word History and Origins

Origin of republic¹

C17: from French république , from Latin rēspublica literally: the public thing, from rēs thing + publica public

Example Sentences

“I think engaged citizens are good for the republic,” he said.

From ProPublica

Last night’s “presidential debate”—less debate than headache, and far from presidential—set a high-water mark for the division that threatens to drown this pandemic-wracked republic.

From Fortune

In the early years of the republic, the Senate overrepresented the slower-growing South, and many political battles were fought over the admission of new states that could shift the balance between North and South.

From Vox

It’s the only way to honor those we have lost, to uphold the ideals this country is supposed to rest on, and to build a stronger, fairer republic for everyone.

From Fortune

At times it appears they are trying to turn the United States into a banana republic or the next Belarus.

From Washington Blade

An examination of the complicated history of America and its movies in the Republic of Korea.

From The Daily Beast

The Second Republic was also considered the another golden age for Korean Cinema.

From The Daily Beast

To the Republic of Korea and United States military personnel stationed in the JSA, it is known as Propaganda Village.

From The Daily Beast

Not so lucky are the editors and writers at The New Republic.

From The Daily Beast

A hard look at campus rape statistics, the collapse of The New Republic and the day John Lennon died.

From The Daily Beast

Gallinas, the noted slave factory on the west of Africa, purchased by the Liberian republic.

From Project Gutenberg

Enchanted with the golden period of the Grecian republic, I passed over the storms by which it had been agitated.

From Project Gutenberg

Recognition of the Philippine Republic as soon as the difficulties with America should be overcome.

From Project Gutenberg

Recognition of a Philippine Republic would have been in direct opposition to the spirit of the treaty of peace.

From Project Gutenberg

The time had been when the proclamation of a republic would have filled her soul with inexpressible joy.

From Project Gutenberg