republican
Pluralrepublicans, Republicans
Pluralrepublicans, Republicans
- 1A member or supporter of the Republican Party, the more right-wing of the two big US political parties.
My grandfather has been a Republican his whole life and has never voted for a Democrat.
Most Republicans in Congress voted against the new law.
UsageWrite it with a capital R. People in the other big party are Democrats.
- 2Belonging to or connected with the Republican Party in the US.
The Republican candidate won the race for governor.
This county has voted Republican for fifty years.
UsageWrite it with a capital R. A place can vote Republican.
- 3To do with a republic, or in favor of a country being a republic instead of having a king or queen.
He has republican views and thinks the country should have no king.
The students started a republican club to argue for an elected head of state.
UsageUsually written with a small r for this meaning.
Note
- 4In the Spanish Civil War, a supporter of the government side, which was the left-wing side.
My grandmother's uncle was a Republican who had to leave Spain after the civil war.
The Republicans held Madrid until the last days of the war.
SimilarLoyalist
OppositeNationalist
Note
Less common meanings
- 5A person who wants their country to be a republic, not ruled by a king or queen.
My aunt is a republican and never watches royal weddings on TV.
The republicans want to elect their head of state.
UsageUsually with a small r. The opposite is monarchist.
Similaranti-monarchist
Oppositemonarchist
Note
- 6An Irish nationalist who wants Ireland to be united as one country.
Her grandfather was a Republican who hoped to see a united Ireland.
Republicans in the town flew the Irish flag from their windows.
UsageThe other side is unionists. People often say nationalists and republicans together.
Note
- 7Having to do with the Republic of China's rule on the Chinese mainland, from 1912 to 1949.
My grandmother collects coins from the Republican era in China.
The museum shows old photos of Shanghai from the Republican period.
- 8Someone who belongs to Les Républicains, a right-wing party in France.
Her father in Lyon has been a Republican since the French party took that name.
The French Republicans picked a new leader.
- 9Someone who belongs to or backs Fianna Fáil, a center-right party in Ireland.
It was confident both that the Republicans would never put it out to put Cosgrave in, and that Fine Gael was equally against the Republicans.
1970, The Republic of Ireland: an hypothesis in eight chapters and two intermissionsHere, Republicans means members of the Irish party Fianna Fáil.Note
- 10A member of Die Republikaner, a far-right political party in Germany.
- 11Another name for the American cliff swallow, a kind of bird.
- 12Another name for the sociable weaver, a kind of bird.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origins
From the adjective republican, meaning "favoring a republic".
Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- The origin is the adjective republican. en.wiktionary.org
- The source adjective means favoring a republic. en.wiktionary.org
Made from republic and -an, partly copying the French word républicain.
Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Republican is formed from republic and -an. en.wiktionary.org
- The formation partly follows French républicain. en.wiktionary.org