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.
Early proponents of republicanism in both the U.S. and France, for instance, employed sacrifice as an ideal of genuine citizenship.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 25, 2026
We can't give up on the American experiment in democratic republicanism, especially on the eve of the semi-quincentennial centennial, the 250th founding anniversary.
From Salon • Apr. 4, 2025
Five people with alleged links to dissident Irish republicanism appeared in court in Glasgow on 29 October charged with terror offences and conspiracy to murder.
From BBC • Feb. 23, 2023
Realizing they could not return to the prerevolutionary era, proponents of conservatism instead sought to suppress the forces of nationalism and liberalism as a means of reining in newfound principles of democracy and republicanism.
From Textbooks • Dec. 14, 2022
The address ended with a new appeal to harmony, with the hope that truth, reason and well-understood self-interest might enlighten the last opponents of true republicanism.
From Thomas Jefferson The Apostle of Americanism by Chinard, Gilbert
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.
