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.
John Adams called the Bible “the most republican book in the world.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026
Opposition candidate Paul Hounkpe offered "republican congratulations" to finance minister Wadagni, 49, who had been widely tipped to win after being endorsed by outgoing leader Patrice Talon.
From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026
By 1787 Madison and the other Founders knew that the great challenge for a new constitution was to channel democratic energy into republican institutions.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026
Both loyalist and republican paramilitaries are behind the practise according to Long, and she wanted to reassure those who have been targeted that they should report it to authorities.
From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026
It is difficult for us to fathom fully the threat that Burr represented to Hamilton because we know that the American experiment with republican government was destined to succeed.
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.
