The Commonwealth is an organization consisting of the United Kingdom and most of the countries that were previously under its rule.
2. countable noun
Commonwealth is used in the official names of some countries, groups of countries, or parts ofcountries.
...the Commonwealth of Australia. [+ of]
...the Commonwealth of Independent States, which replaced the Soviet Union. [+ of]
3. singular noun [usually NOUNof noun]
If you refer to a commonwealthof nations, you are referring to a group of countries who are friendly towards each other and have something in common.
[formal]
...a commonwealth of nations without economic borders.
commonwealth in British English
(ˈkɒmənˌwɛlθ)
noun
1.
the people of a state or nation viewed politically; body politic
2.
a state or nation in which the people possess sovereignty; republic
3.
the body politic organized for the general good
4.
a group of persons united by some common interest
5. obsolete
the general good; public welfare
Commonwealth in British English
(ˈkɒmənˌwɛlθ)
noun
the Commonwealth
1.
an association of sovereign states, almost all of which were at some time dependencies of the UK. All member states recognize the reigning British sovereign as Head of the Commonwealth
Official name: the Commonwealth of Nations
2.
a.
the republic that existed in Britain from 1649 to 1660
b.
the part of this period up to 1653, when Cromwell became Protector
3.
the official designation of Australia, four states of the US (Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia), and Puerto Rico
commonwealth in American English
(ˈkɑmənˌwɛlθ)
noun
1.
the people of a nation or state; body politic
2.
a.
a nation or state in which there is self-government; democracy or republic
b.
a federation of states [the Commonwealth of Australia]
Commonwealth is also the official designation of Puerto Rico, in its special status under theU.S. government
3. US, Loosely
any state of the U.S.; strictly, Ky., Mass., Pa., or Va., which were so designated in their first constitutions
4.
a group of people united by common interests
5. Obsolete
the general welfare; commonweal
Idioms:
the Commonwealth
Word origin
ME commun welthe: see common & wealth
Examples of 'commonwealth' in a sentence
commonwealth
The bosses of two Commonwealth countries were the most enthusiastic.
The Sun (2016)
All related terms of 'commonwealth'
Commonwealth Day
the anniversary of Queen Victoria's birth , May 24, celebrated (now on the second Monday in March ) as a holiday in many parts of the Commonwealth
Commonwealth Games
an event held every four years in which sportspeople from the countries of the Commonwealth compete
New Commonwealth
a term used esp in the latter part of the 20th century in Britain to describe countries in the British Commonwealth that became independent after World War II
the Commonwealth
the government in England under the Cromwells and Parliament from 1649 to 1660
Commonwealth of Dominica
a republic in the E Caribbean , comprising a volcanic island in the Windward Islands group; a former British colony ; became independent as a member of the Commonwealth in 1978. Official language: English. Religion : Roman Catholic majority . Currency : East Caribbean dollar . Capital: Roseau . Pop: 73 925 (2017 est). Area: 751 sq km (290 sq miles)
Commonwealth of Nations
a voluntary association of independent nations and dependent territories linked by historical ties (as parts of the former British Empire ) and cooperating on matters of mutual concern, esp. regarding economics and trade
Commonwealth of Australia
a large island country, situated between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific : a former British colony , now an independent member of the Commonwealth , constitutional links with the United Kingdom formally abolished in 1986; consists chiefly of a low plateau , mostly arid in the west, with the basin of the Murray River and the Great Dividing Range in the east and the Great Barrier Reef off the NE coast. Language: English; Aboriginal languages also spoken. Religion : Christian majority . Currency : Australian dollar . Capital: Canberra . Pop: 24 446 341 (2017 est). Area: 7 682 300 sq km (2 966 150 sq miles)
British Commonwealth of Nations
an association of sovereign states , almost all of which were at some time dependencies of the UK. All member states recognize the reigning British sovereign as Head of the Commonwealth
Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars
the Australian women’s national cricket team
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
the department of British government which promotes the United Kingdom's interests abroad
the Commonwealth of Nations
an association of sovereign states , almost all of which were at some time dependencies of the UK. All member states recognize the reigning British sovereign as Head of the Commonwealth
British Commonwealth (of Nations)
→ the Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Independent States
a loose organization of former Soviet republics, excluding the Baltic States, formed in 1991
Australia
a large island country, situated between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific : a former British colony , now an independent member of the Commonwealth , constitutional links with the United Kingdom formally abolished in 1986; consists chiefly of a low plateau , mostly arid in the west, with the basin of the Murray River and the Great Dividing Range in the east and the Great Barrier Reef off the NE coast. Language: English; Aboriginal languages also spoken. Religion : Christian majority . Currency : Australian dollar . Capital: Canberra . Pop: 24 446 341 (2017 est). Area: 7 682 300 sq km (2 966 150 sq miles)
Bahamas
country on a group of islands ( Bahama Islands ) in the West Indies , southeast of Fla. & north of Cuba : formerly a British possession , it became independent (1973) & a member of the Commonwealth : 5,353 sq mi (13,864 sq km); pop. 264,000; cap . Nassau
the Bahamas
a group of over 700 coral islands (about 20 of which are inhabited ) in the Caribbean : a British colony from 1783 until 1964; an independent nation within the Commonwealth from 1973. Language: English. Currency: Bahamian dollar . Capital: Nassau . Pop: 395 361 (2017 est). Area: 13 939 sq km (5381 sq miles)