commonwealth

commonwealth — 名詞

1. a group of independent countries that share historical ties and cooperate on pol

1.名詞B2
釋義

國協

多國自願組成的政治經濟合作組織

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.

例句

Canada and Australia share visa programs and trade benefits as Commonwealth members.

加拿大和澳洲作為大英國協成員，享有簽證優惠和貿易福利。

collocation: Commonwealth members / visa programs / trade benefits

Every four years, the Commonwealth Games unite over 5,000 athletes from 70 nations for friendly competition.

大英國協運動會每四年舉辦一次，匯集來自七十多國的五千多名選手進行友好競賽。

collocation: Commonwealth Games / scale: over 5,000 athletes / 70 nations

同義詞
  • 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

❌The commonwealth is a single country with one government.
✅The Commonwealth is a group of independent countries that choose to work together.
💡Members keep their own governments and are not ruled by any central power.

2. a nation, territory, or political division whose residents make their own laws t

2.名詞B2
釋義

自治邦

人民自治的國家、州或領地

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.

例句

Massachusetts officially calls itself a commonwealth, so state documents and court cases use that title.

麻薩諸塞州正式自稱 commonwealth，因此州政府文件和法院案件都使用這個頭銜。

official title: Commonwealth of [State] / practical use: documents + courts

Puerto Rico, a US commonwealth, runs its own schools while US defence protects the island.

波多黎各作為美國的自治邦，自行管理學校教育，同時由美國負責國防。

self-governing commonwealth within a larger nation

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • 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.

常見錯誤

❌Massachusetts is a commonwealth, so it is not part of the United States.
✅Massachusetts is a commonwealth and has been a US state since 1788.
💡These four states are fully part of the US; 'commonwealth' is simply their official title.