commonweal

or com·mon weal

[ kom-uhn-weel ]

noun

1. the common welfare; the public good.
2. Archaic. the body politic; a commonwealth.

commonweal

/ ˈkɒmənˌwiːl /

noun

1. the good of the community
2. another name for commonwealth

Word History and Origins

Origin of commonweal¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, commonweal is from Middle English comen wele. See common, weal ¹

Example Sentences

How, he asks, can the majority be trusted when narrow self-interest is allowed to run roughshod over the commonweal?

From Los Angeles Times

A speech designed to discuss the commonweal will be delivered to a nation that is having increasing difficulty finding much of anything in common.

From Seattle Times

Politicians and assorted intellectuals lazily depict public expressions of faith as providing exponential benefits for the commonweal.

From Salon

The problem, of course, is a widespread disinclination to serve that good, whether it is fueled by selfishness and ignorance or the sense that one’s contributions to the commonweal have not felt adequately reciprocal.

From New York Times

The usual response to people who abuse an honor system — or indeed, who fail to contribute to the commonweal by masking and social distancing — is to expose them to shame, typically by revealing their misconduct.

From New York Times