republic

noun

ri-PUB-lik/ɹɪˈpʌb.lɪk/

3 meanings of republic

1
no kingnouncountable
A country led by elected officials instead of a king or queen.
Like a club where the members choose their own leader instead of being ruled by one family.
France became a republic after the revolution overthrew its king.
Many republics hold elections every few years to choose their leaders.
Similardemocracy, commonwealth
Oppositemonarchy
Note
2
nouncountable
A part of a larger federal country, with its own government, such as in the former Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, or Russia.
Like a region inside a country that gets to make some of its own rules.
Chechnya is a republic in the south of Russia.
Some of Russia's republics have their own languages and flags.
UsageWrite it with a capital in names: the Republic of Tatarstan.
Note
3
nounarchaic
A country where the lawmakers and the rulers are kept separate, even if it has a king.
Note

Can you tell the meanings of republic apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

It comes from a Latin phrase meaning "the public thing," made from rēs ("thing") and pūblica ("public"). It reached English through French.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Republic derives from a Latin phrase literally meaning “the public thing,” composed of rēs (“thing”) and pūblica (“public”). en.wiktionary.org
Republic entered English through French. en.wiktionary.org