n.1 a State in which supreme power is held by the people or their elected representatives or by an elected or nominated president, not by a monarch etc.
2 a society with equality between its members (the literary republic).
Phrases and idioms:
Republic Day the day on which the foundation of a republic is commemorated; in India 26 January.
Etymology: F r{eacute}publique f. L respublica f. res concern + publicus PUBLIC