commonwealth
gb/kˈɑmənwˌɛlθ/ us/kˈɑmənwˌɛlθ/
B2
English
Nemzetközösség, államszövetség, szövetségi kormány, politikai közösség, köztársaság, közjó, angol köztársaság
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
1
Usage pattern:
the Commonwealth
India and Canada are both members of the Commonwealth.
India és Kanada is a Nemzetközösség tagja.
The prime minister attended a Commonwealth leaders’ meeting in London.
A miniszterelnök részt vett a Nemzetközösség vezetőinek londoni találkozóján.
Several countries have joined the Commonwealth in recent decades.
Learner examples
Australia is in the Commonwealth.
Ausztrália tagja a Nemzetközösségnek.
They met other Commonwealth leaders.
Más nemzetközösségi vezetőkkel találkoztak.
Common mistake:
Learners may write it as two words (common wealth) when referring to the organization; it is usually capitalized as Commonwealth in this sense.
Meaning
association of member countries
Collocations
Commonwealth member
|Commonwealth countries
|Commonwealth leaders
|Commonwealth summit
|Commonwealth meeting
|Commonwealth Secretariat
|Commonwealth charter
|Commonwealth values
|Commonwealth membership
|a Commonwealth nation
Synonyms
Commonwealth of Nations (The full formal name of the same organization.)
Themes
politics
|international_relations
|government
|history
Definition
a group of countries, many once linked to Britain, that work together
an international association of countries, most of which were formerly part of the British Empire, that cooperate on political, economic, and cultural matters
NOUN
B2
FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
the Commonwealth of [place] | a commonwealth
Virginia is officially known as the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Virginia hivatalos elnevezése Virginiai Nemzetközösség.
The treaty was signed by the Commonwealth of Australia.
A szerződést az Ausztrál Államszövetség írta alá.
In the United States, a few states use the title commonwealth.
Learner examples
Massachusetts is a commonwealth state.
Massachusetts hivatalos címében a Commonwealth szerepel.
Australia’s official title includes Commonwealth.
Ausztrália hivatalos nevében szerepel a Commonwealth szó.
Common mistake:
This meaning is about a title used in official names; it does not automatically mean the place is part of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Meaning
state or country named Commonwealth
Collocations
the Commonwealth of Australia
|the Commonwealth of Virginia
|the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
|the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
|the Commonwealth of Kentucky
|a commonwealth state
|a commonwealth government
Synonyms
state (In U.S. contexts, commonwealth states are still states legally.)
|
country (Used when Commonwealth appears in a sovereign state’s official name.)
Themes
government
|politics
|geography
|law
Definition
a place whose official name includes Commonwealth
a state or country that uses Commonwealth in its official name or title, emphasizing government for the public good (e.g., several U.S. states and Australia)
NOUN
B2
FORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
the Commonwealth
Health policy is partly funded by the Commonwealth and partly by the states.
Az egészségpolitika finanszírozását részben a szövetségi kormány, részben az államok biztosítják.
The Commonwealth announced new rules on aged care.
A szövetségi kormány új szabályokat jelentett be az idősgondozásról.
The court found the Commonwealth acted within its constitutional powers.
Learner examples
The Commonwealth set a new national rule.
A szövetségi kormány új országos szabályt hozott.
The state and the Commonwealth shared the costs.
Az állam és a szövetségi kormány megosztotta a költségeket.
Common mistake:
This is mainly Australian usage; outside Australia, the Commonwealth more often refers to the international organization.
Meaning
Australia’s federal government
Collocations
Commonwealth government
|Commonwealth funding
|Commonwealth budget
|Commonwealth taxes
|Commonwealth legislation
|Commonwealth minister
|Commonwealth agencies
|Commonwealth–state relations
Synonyms
federal government (A general term; Commonwealth is the common Australian label.)
|
national government (Emphasizes the countrywide level rather than states.)
Antonyms
state government (The subnational level contrasted with the Commonwealth in Australia.)
Themes
government
|law
|australia
|politics
Definition
the national government in Australia
the national (federal) government of Australia, especially as distinct from state and territory governments
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
a commonwealth
The philosopher described the ideal commonwealth as one ruled by laws rather than by individuals.
A filozófus az ideális politikai közösséget olyannak írta le, amelyben nem emberek, hanem törvények uralkodnak.
They argued that a commonwealth depends on citizens’ participation.
Azzal érveltek, hogy egy politikai közösség a polgárok részvételén alapul.
The constitution aimed to create a stable commonwealth after years of conflict.
Learner examples
They wanted to build a commonwealth for all citizens.
Olyan politikai közösséget akartak létrehozni, amely minden polgár számára van.
Common mistake:
Learners may think it always means the Commonwealth of Nations; in lowercase it can be a general political idea.
Meaning
political community for common good
Collocations
a free commonwealth
|a republican commonwealth
|a constitutional commonwealth
|a commonwealth founded on
|a commonwealth governed by law
Synonyms
republic (Often overlaps, but commonwealth can be broader and focus on the common good.)
|
polity (More academic; refers generally to an organized society/government.)
Antonyms
tyranny (Opposes the idea of government for the common good.)
Themes
politics
|government
|civics
Definition
a society or state run for everyone’s benefit
a political community or state organized for the common good, often understood as a republic or self-governing society
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
5
közjó
C1
Usage pattern:
the commonwealth | for the commonwealth
The program was designed to improve the commonwealth rather than enrich a few individuals.
A programot úgy tervezték, hogy a közjót szolgálja, ne pedig néhány embert gazdagítson.
She argued that education is essential to the commonwealth of the country.
Szerinte az oktatás nélkülözhetetlen az ország közjója szempontjából.
Policies that harm the commonwealth should be reconsidered.
Learner examples
They made laws for the commonwealth.
A közjó érdekében hoztak törvényeket.
Common mistake:
This sense is usually abstract and often sounds formal; it is not the same as personal wealth.
Meaning
the public good and welfare
Collocations
for the commonwealth
|the commonwealth of the nation
|serve the commonwealth
|protect the commonwealth
|the commonwealth and safety
Synonyms
public good (A modern, more common phrase with the same core idea.)
|
general welfare (Often used in policy and legal contexts.)
Antonyms
private interest (Focus on individual benefit rather than shared benefit.)
Themes
society
|civics
|politics
Definition
the good of everyone in a society
the general welfare of the public; the common good of a community
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
6
Usage pattern:
the Commonwealth
Many royalist estates were confiscated during the Commonwealth.
Sok királypárti birtokot elkoboztak az angol köztársaság idején.
The monarchy was restored after the Commonwealth ended in 1660.
Az angol köztársaság 1660-as megszűnése után helyreállították a monarchiát.
The museum has a collection of coins from the Commonwealth period.
Learner examples
The Commonwealth ended in 1660.
Az angol köztársaság 1660-ban ért véget.
Common mistake:
Because it is capitalized, learners may confuse this historical period with the modern Commonwealth of Nations.
Meaning
English republic period (1649–1660)
Collocations
the English Commonwealth
|the Commonwealth period
|during the Commonwealth
|the Commonwealth government
|the Protectorate and the Commonwealth
Synonyms
English Commonwealth (A more explicit label for the same historical period.)
Antonyms
Restoration (The return of the monarchy in 1660, ending the Commonwealth period.)
Themes
history
|politics
|government
|uk_history
Definition
a time when England was a republic (1649–1660)
the period (1649–1660) when England (later including Scotland and Ireland) was governed as a republic after the execution of Charles I, before the monarchy was restored
Grammar
Dictionary form
commonwealth
IPA
GB/kˈɑmənwˌɛlθ/
US/kˈɑmənwˌɛlθ/
Syllables & stress
com - mon - wealth (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (com)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: commonwealth
- Plural: commonwealth, commonwealths
Word family
Expressions
commonwealth citizen
1/kˈɑmənwˌɛlθ sˈɪtɪzən/
fixed phrase
legal
citizen of a Commonwealth member
a person who is a citizen of a Commonwealth country
Examples
- Certain voting rights in the UK apply to Commonwealth citizens who are resident there.
- The form asks whether you are a Commonwealth citizen.
- Some immigration categories treat Commonwealth citizens differently from other foreign nationals.
Learner examples
- She is a Commonwealth citizen.
commonwealth country
1/kˈɑmənwˌɛlθ kˈʌntɹi/
fixed phrase
formal
member of the Commonwealth
a country in the Commonwealth
Examples
- The scholarship is open to students from Commonwealth countries.
- Trade agreements were discussed among several Commonwealth countries.
- Not every former British colony is now a Commonwealth country.
Learner examples
- Canada is a Commonwealth country.
commonwealth day
1/kˈɑmənwˌɛlθ dˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
formal
annual Commonwealth celebration
a special day that celebrates the Commonwealth
Examples
- A service was held at Westminster Abbey on Commonwealth Day.
- Schools marked Commonwealth Day with assemblies and talks.
- The Commonwealth Day message focused on climate action.
Learner examples
- They had an event on Commonwealth Day.
commonwealth games
1/kˈɑmənwˌɛlθ ɡˈeɪmz/
fixed phrase
sports event for Commonwealth nations
a big sports competition for Commonwealth countries
Examples
- She won gold at the Commonwealth Games.
- The city is preparing to host the Commonwealth Games next year.
- Several sports appear at the Commonwealth Games but not at the Olympics.
Learner examples
- He watched the Commonwealth Games on TV.
commonwealth heads of government meeting
1/kˈɑmənwˌɛlθ hˈɛdz əv ɡˈʌvɚnmənt mˈitɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
summit of Commonwealth leaders
a big meeting of Commonwealth leaders
Examples
- Trade and security were discussed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
- Protesters gathered outside the venue during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
- The next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will be hosted by a Pacific nation.
commonwealth realm
1/kˈɑmənwˌɛlθ ɹˈɛlm/
fixed phrase
formal
Commonwealth member with shared monarch
a Commonwealth country that shares the same king or queen
Examples
- Canada is a Commonwealth realm with the monarch as head of state.
- Several Commonwealth realms changed the wording on their coins after the accession of the new monarch.
- Australia is a Commonwealth realm, although it governs itself independently.
Learner examples
- Canada is a Commonwealth realm.