Commonwealth

Table of contents

1 Noun 1.1 Examples 1.2 Translations 2 Related Terms

Noun

commonwealth, plural commonwealths

1. form of government, named for the concept that everything that is not owned by specific individuals or groups is owned collectively by everyone in the governmental unit, as opposed to a state, where the state itself owns such things.

Examples

For example the offical name of Australia is Commonwealth of Australia. Applied to four states of the United States, such as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Also used by self-governing, semi-autonomous units such as the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Translations

• Dutch: gemenebest n

Related Terms

• commonweal