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 That both races in the Sunshine State feature Black candidates — Donalds from the MAGA wing of his party and Nixon from the progressive wing of hers — is evidence of the republic’s progress and its limits. — Theodore R. Johnson, Washington Post, 14 Oct. 2026 Coalition advisor Claude Ibalanky said at a news conference late Monday at Kabila’s residence in the eastern city of Goma that the FRN’s mission is to restore the pillars of a functioning republic. — Justin Kabumba, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 Both were arrested and were being held in separate prisons in the central city of Isfahan over their participation in the nationwide January protests that shook the Islamic republic. — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026 Today, however, the twin-island republic is entering a new phase in which energy remains fundamental while investment, infrastructure development and diversification are becoming increasingly important. — Panorama Media Ltd, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for republic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for republic
democracy
Noun
  • Fully 88 percent of respondents expressed favorable attitudes toward democracy, while 67 percent held negative views of a government based on sharia.
    — Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The island, one of Africa’s most stable democracies, experienced similar unrest in 1999, when a popular musician’s death in police custody sparked days of rioting.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 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 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on republic

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about republic

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