republican
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or of the nature of a republic.
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favoring a republic.
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fitting or appropriate for the citizen of a republic.
a very republican notion.
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(initial capital letter) of or relating to the Republican Party.
noun
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a person who favors a republican form of government.
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(initial capital letter) a member of the Republican Party.
adjective
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of, resembling, or relating to a republic
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supporting or advocating a republic
noun
adjective
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of, belonging to, or relating to a Republican Party
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of, belonging to, or relating to the Irish Republican Army
noun
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a member or supporter of a Republican Party
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a member or supporter of the Irish Republican Army
Other Word Forms
- antirepublican adjective
- half-republican adjective
- nonrepublican adjective
- prerepublican adjective
- prorepublican adjective
- pseudorepublican adjective
- semirepublican adjective
- unrepublican adjective
Etymology
Origin of republican
First recorded in 1685–95, republican is from the French word républicain, Middle French. See republic, -an
Explanation
The adjective republican describes a government made up of representatives who are elected by the citizens. If you live in the United States, you’re part of a republican system of government. In a republican government, citizens have a lot of power — their vote determines who is running the government. The word republican has a noun and an adjective form. The noun is for a person who supports that style of government, and the adjective describes something with those characteristics. But if you see republican with a capital letter “r” — Republican — then that refers to a member of the Republican Party.
Vocabulary lists containing republican
Lincoln Inaugural Address (March 1861)
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"What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" Vocabulary from the speech
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Chapter 3, Sections 1–2
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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.
Several hundred people, including some in combat uniforms and wearing face coverings, have taken part in a dissident republican Easter commemoration in Londonderry.
From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026
Adams was the former president of republican party Sinn Féin from 1983 until 2018.
From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026
During Elizabeth II’s 70-year reign, the longest in over 1,000 years of royal rule, republican forces opposing the crown were essentially invisible.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026
Making a government—a good, republican government, at least—requires nothing short of a miracle.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026
In both instances his posture of public probity—slavery should be ended and political parties were evil agents that corrupted republican values—was at odds with his personal behavior and political interest.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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.
