republic

[ ri-puhb-lik ]

noun

1. a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them.
2. any body of persons viewed as a commonwealth.
3. a state in which the head of government is not a monarch or other hereditary head of state.
4. (initial capital letter) any of the five periods of republican government in France. Compare First Republic, Second Republic, Third Republic, Fourth Republic, Fifth Republic.
5. (initial capital letter, italics) a philosophical dialogue (4th century b.c.) by Plato dealing with the composition and structure of the ideal state.

republic

/ rɪˈpʌblɪk /

noun

1. a form of government in which the people or their elected representatives possess the supreme power
2. a political or national unit possessing such a form of government
3. a constitutional form in which the head of state is an elected or nominated president
4. any community or group that resembles a political republic in that its members or elements exhibit a general equality, shared interests, etc

   the republic of letters

republic

1. A form of government in which power is explicitly vested in the people, who in turn exercise their power through elected representatives. Today, the terms republic and democracyare virtually interchangeable, but historically the two differed. Democracy implied direct rule by the people, all of whom were equal, whereas republic implied a system of government in which the will of the people was mediated by representatives, who might be wiser and better educated than the average person. In the early American republic, for example, the requirement that voters own property and the establishment of institutions such as the Electoral College were intended to cushion the government from the direct expression of the popular will.

Other Words From

• semi·re·public noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of republic¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from French république, Middle French, from Latin rēs pūblica, equivalent to rēs “thing, entity” ( rebus ( def ) ) + pūblica public

Word History and Origins

Origin of republic¹

C17: from French république , from Latin rēspublica literally: the public thing, from rēs thing + publica public

Example Sentences

Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia and Greece are also within striking distance for the Scots but - unlike Norway - they do not need two wins to be uncatchable.

From BBC

For Doupe, who is just 23 and is from the Republic of Ireland, the Troubles represented less familiar terrain.

From Los Angeles Times

It also adds to the sense that the games in Greece on Thursday and against the Republic Of Ireland on Sunday do not carry meaning.

From BBC

So when Kane diverted from his trademark non-controversial messaging to deliver what amounted to a very public slap down on England team-mates for missing the forthcoming Uefa Nations League games against Greece and the Republic of Ireland, it was a moment of wide significance.

From BBC

England likely must beat Greece in Athens on Thursday and Republic of Ireland at Wembley on Sunday if they are to be promoted to League A of the Uefa Nations League.

From BBC