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
Crime in the commonwealth is on the low side despite its size.
—
Scott Cohn, CNBC, 14 July 2025
In Pennsylvania alone, more than 100 deaths have occurred at three dozen dams across the commonwealth, according to a study conducted by a team of researchers at Brigham Young University.
—Michele Haddon, USA Today, 14 July 2025
The disease is most commonly found in bats and skunks in the commonwealth, and more than 20 bats have tested positive for rabies in Jefferson County since 2019, health department data shows.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 11 July 2025
It should also be flown at half-staff at all federal facilities in the state, congressional district, territory or commonwealth of these officials.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for commonwealth
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Scott Cohn, CNBC, 14 July 2025
In Pennsylvania alone, more than 100 deaths have occurred at three dozen dams across the commonwealth, according to a study conducted by a team of researchers at Brigham Young University.
—Michele Haddon, USA Today, 14 July 2025
The disease is most commonly found in bats and skunks in the commonwealth, and more than 20 bats have tested positive for rabies in Jefferson County since 2019, health department data shows.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 11 July 2025
It should also be flown at half-staff at all federal facilities in the state, congressional district, territory or commonwealth of these officials.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for commonwealth
Cite this Entry
“Commonwealth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commonwealth. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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
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