Definition: Republic

Etymology

From Middle French republique (“republic”), from Latin rēspūblicā, from rēs (“thing”) + pūblica (“public”); hence literally “the public thing.”

Noun

republic (plural republics)

1. A state where sovereignty rests with the people or their representatives, rather than with a monarch or emperor; a country with no monarchy.

   The United States is a republic; the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a constitutional monarchy.

   The U.S.A. is a republic; Great Britain is technically a monarchy.

2. One of the subdivisions constituting Russia. See oblast.

   The Republic of Udmurtia is west of the Permian Oblast.

Derived terms

• Argentine Republic
• banana republic
• parliamentary republic
• people's republic
• presidential republic
• republican
• republicanism
• Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Credits

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