commonwealth
commonwealth — noun
1. a group of independent countries that share historical ties and cooperate on pol
a group of independent countries that share historical ties and cooperate on political and economic matters. The term most often refers to the Commonwealth of Nations, a voluntary association that grew out of the former British Empire.
Canada and Australia share visa programs and trade benefits as Commonwealth members.
collocation: Commonwealth members / visa programs / trade benefits
Every four years, the Commonwealth Games unite over 5,000 athletes from 70 nations for friendly competition.
collocation: Commonwealth Games / scale: over 5,000 athletes / 70 nations
Rwanda joined the Commonwealth in 2009 even though it was never a British colony.
Kenya and Malaysia, linked by shared Commonwealth history, signed a new trade agreement last month.
- alliance
focuses on a shared goal or agreement rather than historical ties
- federation
implies a stronger central government; members of a commonwealth keep full independence
- union
broader term; a commonwealth is a specific type of union based on voluntary cooperation
文法句型
the Commonwealth (proper noun)
a commonwealth of + plural noun (countries/states)
用法筆記
Often capitalized as 'the Commonwealth' when referring to the specific 56-member organization. Member states are fully independent — the Commonwealth is a voluntary association, not a governing body.
常見錯誤
2. a nation, territory, or political division whose residents make their own laws t
a nation, territory, or political division whose residents make their own laws through elected officials. The term appears in the formal names of four US states (Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky) and of Puerto Rico, where it signals self-rule within a larger country.
Massachusetts officially calls itself a commonwealth, so state documents and court cases use that title.
official title: Commonwealth of [State] / practical use: documents + courts
Puerto Rico, a US commonwealth, runs its own schools while US defence protects the island.
self-governing commonwealth within a larger nation
Puerto Rico became a commonwealth of the United States in 1952.
Election day saw voters across the commonwealth line up at schools and libraries to choose a new governor.
- republic
emphasises a nation without a monarch; a commonwealth may exist within a monarchy
- state
generic term; 'commonwealth' is a specific historical title for certain states
- self-governing territory
more precise for territories like Puerto Rico that are not full states
- colony
a colony is ruled by an outside power; a commonwealth governs itself
文法句型
the Commonwealth of [Place Name]
a commonwealth (used as a title for a state or territory)
用法筆記
The term does NOT change a state's legal status — Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky are full US states like any other. For Puerto Rico, 'commonwealth' signals local autonomy while remaining under US sovereignty.