■ noun
1》 an independent state or community, especially a democratic republic.
↘a grouping of states or other bodies.
↘a self-governing unit voluntarily grouped with the US, such as Puerto Rico.
↘a formal title of certain US states.
↘the title of the federated Australian states.
2》 ( the Commonwealth ) (in full the Commonwealth of Nations ) an international association consisting of the UK together with states that were previously part of the British Empire, and dependencies.
3》 ( the Commonwealth ) the republican period of government in Britain between the execution of Charles I in 1649 and the Restoration of Charles II in 1660.
4》 ( the ~ ) archaic the general good.