republicanism

American  

[ri-puhb-li-kuh-niz-uhm] / rɪˈpʌb lɪ kəˌnɪz əm /

noun

1. republican government.

2. republican principles or adherence to them.

3. (initial capital letter) the principles or policy of the Republican Party.

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republicanism British  

/ rɪˈpʌblɪkəˌnɪzəm /

noun

1. the principles or theory of republican government

2. support for a republic

3. (often capital) support for a Republican Party or for the Irish Republican Army

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Other Word Forms

• antirepublicanism
  noun

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."

Example Sentences

In Andrew’s case, any sizable number of individual conversations with the man would have kindled a wildfire of republicanism.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 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

Dissident republicanism is made up of various groups which broke away from the Provisional IRA in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, including the Continuity IRA and New IRA.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 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 Rights of Man" was the first exposition of the republicanism of Jefferson, Madison, and Edmund Randolph that ever appeared.

From The Life Of Thomas Paine, Vol. I. (of II) With A History of His Literary, Political and Religious Career in America France, and England; to which is added a Sketch of Paine by William Cobbett by Conway, Moncure Daniel