republic

noun

ri-ˈpə-blik How to pronounce republic (audio)
Definition of republicnext
as in democracy
government in which the supreme power is held by the people and used by them directly or indirectly through representation when asked by a passerby what sort of government the constitutional convention had formulated for the new nation, Benjamin Franklin memorably replied, "A republic, if you can keep it"

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of republic This swept away Iran’s monarchy and birthed a state that is part theocracy, part republic, with a handful of semi-democratic institutions swaddled by a system that is ultimately clerical. — Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 6 July 2026 Historians have devoted enormous attention to the collapse of the royal courts, the creation of state judiciaries, the drafting of new constitutions, and the construction of the legal institutions of the new republic. — Joseph Andrew, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026 On America’s 250th, the president has elevated some important debates about the mechanics of running a self-governing republic. — Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 5 July 2026 When the United States invaded the Philippines during the Spanish-American War, Twain naively imagined that the country would be liberated and turned into a republic. — Ron Chernow, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for republic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for republic
democracy
Noun
  • Divisions are part of the price of democracy, argued Lincoln author and University of Florida professor Allen Guelzo.
    — Chris Kenning, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • The birthright citizenship ruling was a win for democracy — and a warning about erasing history, argues columnist Anita Chabria.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of democracy

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reptilian
republic
republican
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Cite this Entry

“Republic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/republic. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on republic

Nglish: Translation of republic for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about republic

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