commonwealth
noun
com·mon·wealth
ˈkä-mən-ˌwelth 
also -ˌweltth
1
2
: a state of the U.S.
—used officially of Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia
3
often capitalized
: a political unit having local autonomy but voluntarily united with the U.S.
—used officially of Puerto Rico and of the Northern Mariana Islands
4
often capitalized
: an association of self-governing autonomous states more or less loosely associated in a common allegiance (as to the British crown)
5
capitalized
a
: the English state from the death of Charles I in 1649 to the Restoration in 1660
6
capitalized
: a federal union of constituent states
—used officially of Australia
7
archaic
: commonweal sense 2
Examples of commonwealth in a Sentence
laws that will benefit all the citizens of the commonwealth
Recent Examples on the Web
The Massachusetts Broadband Institute, a state agency tasked with making affordable internet widely available, says that 99% of the commonwealth now has high-speed internet.
—
Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Nov. 2024
Here are other Kentucky statues Richardson, a Kentucky native and Louisville resident, is a New York Times, Los Angeles Times and USA Today author and advocate whose stories highlight the culture and heritage of the commonwealth.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 15 Nov. 2024
Meanwhile, a Virginia Commonwealth University poll found Trump leading Biden by 3 points, while a New York Times-Siena College poll showed Biden leading Trump by 3 points in the commonwealth.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 6 Nov. 2024
The former president also exaggerated 2024 election polls during the Pennsylvania rally, claiming big leads in the commonwealth and other decisive states like Michigan.
—David Jackson, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for commonwealth 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Nov. 2024
Here are other Kentucky statues Richardson, a Kentucky native and Louisville resident, is a New York Times, Los Angeles Times and USA Today author and advocate whose stories highlight the culture and heritage of the commonwealth.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 15 Nov. 2024
Meanwhile, a Virginia Commonwealth University poll found Trump leading Biden by 3 points, while a New York Times-Siena College poll showed Biden leading Trump by 3 points in the commonwealth.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 6 Nov. 2024
The former president also exaggerated 2024 election polls during the Pennsylvania rally, claiming big leads in the commonwealth and other decisive states like Michigan.
—David Jackson, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for commonwealth
Dictionary Entries Near commonwealth
Cite this Entry
“Commonwealth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commonwealth. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
commonwealth
noun
com·mon·wealth
-ˌwelth
1
: a political unit (as a nation or state)
2
: a state of the U.S.
—used officially of Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia
Legal Definition
commonwealth
noun
com·mon·wealth
ˈkä-mən-ˌwelth
1
: a nation, state, or other political unit: as
a
: one founded on law and united by compact or tacit agreement by the people for the common good
b
: one in which supreme authority is vested in the people
c
: republic
2
: a state of the U.S.
—used officially of Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia
3
often capitalized
: an association of self-governing autonomous states more or less loosely associated in a common allegiance (as to the British crown)
4
often capitalized
: a political unit having local autonomy but voluntarily united with the U.S.
—used officially of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share