republicanism
gb/ɹɪpˈʌblɪkənˌɪzəm/ us/ɹɪpˈʌblɪkənˌɪzəm/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
C1
abstract
1
Support for republics
The belief that a country should not have a king or queen and should be governed as a republic.
Usage pattern:
republicanism in [place]; support for republicanism; advocate republicanism
Common mistake:
Do not automatically connect lowercase republicanism with the U.S. Republican Party; in many contexts it simply means support for a republic instead of a monarchy.
Synonyms
anti-monarchism (emphasizes opposition to monarchy rather than support for a republic itself)
|
republican politics (broader and less precise; can refer to republican principles or party politics)
Antonyms
monarchism (support for rule by a monarch)
|
royalism (loyalty to a monarch or royal family)
Collocations
support for republicanism
|advocate republicanism
|republicanism and monarchy
|a tradition of republicanism
|modern republicanism
|constitutional republicanism
|popular republicanism
|spread of republicanism
Themes
politics
|government
|ideology
Examples
- The debate over the royal family has revived interest in republicanism.
- Her republicanism is based on the view that public offices should not be inherited.
- After the king abdicated, republicanism became a serious option for the country.
Learner examples
- He supports republicanism and does not want a king.
- Republicanism is popular among some young voters.
Noun
formal
C1
abstract
2
Principles of republican government
A set of ideas about how citizens and elected governments should act in a republic.
Usage pattern:
republicanism as [a political tradition]; the ideals of republicanism; republicanism and [another ideology]
Common mistake:
This meaning is about political theory, not necessarily about any modern political party called Republican.
Synonyms
republican theory (near-equivalent, especially in academic writing)
|
civic humanism (related historical tradition, especially emphasizing civic virtue)
Antonyms
absolutism (supports concentrated, often unchecked sovereign power)
|
authoritarianism (opposes the participatory and self-governing emphasis of republicanism)
Collocations
classical republicanism
|civic republicanism
|republicanism and liberalism
|the ideals of republicanism
|the principles of republicanism
|a theory of republicanism
|the republicanism of the founders
|modern republicanism
Themes
politics
|government
|political_theory
|civic_life
Examples
- The course examines republicanism as a tradition of self-government and civic responsibility.
- In this book, republicanism is contrasted with liberalism and socialism.
- The constitution reflects several ideas associated with republicanism, including representation and the rule of law.
Learner examples
- Republicanism values citizens taking part in public life.
- The article explains the main ideas of republicanism.
Noun
C1
abstract
3
Republican Party ideology
The political ideas connected with a Republican Party, especially in the United States.
Usage pattern:
Republicanism in [place]; modern Republicanism; [someone's] Republicanism
Common mistake:
This sense is usually capitalized as Republicanism. In countries with monarchies, lowercase republicanism often means wanting a republic, not supporting the U.S. Republican Party.
Synonyms
GOP ideology (U.S.-specific and more informal)
|
conservatism (overlaps in U.S. politics but is broader and not always Republican)
Antonyms
Democratic Party ideology (the beliefs and policies associated with the U.S. Democratic Party)
|
liberalism (often opposed in U.S. political contexts, though meanings vary by country)
Collocations
modern Republicanism
|American Republicanism
|conservative Republicanism
|Reagan Republicanism
|Trump-era Republicanism
|mainstream Republicanism
|the future of Republicanism
|a form of Republicanism
Themes
politics
|us_politics
|parties
|ideology
Examples
- The speech tried to define a more populist form of Republicanism.
- Historians often debate how Reagan changed modern Republicanism.
- In the United States, Republicanism is often discussed in relation to conservatism, taxes, and federal power.
Learner examples
- The book is about modern Republicanism in the United States.
- Her article compares Republicanism and Democratic politics.
Grammar
Dictionary form
republicanism
IPA
GB/ɹɪpˈʌblɪkənˌɪzəm/
US/ɹɪpˈʌblɪkənˌɪzəm/
Syllables & stress
re - pub - lic - an - ism (5 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pub)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: republicanism
- Plural: republicanism
Expressions
american republicanism
1/əmˈɛɹɪkən ɹɪpˈʌblɪkənˌɪzəm/
fixed phrase
formal
U.S. republican tradition
The ideas about republican government that shaped the United States, especially its founding political system.
Examples
- The historian argues that American republicanism combined fear of tyranny with faith in representative government.
- Debates about public virtue were central to early American republicanism.
- The essay distinguishes American republicanism from European monarchism.
civic republicanism
1/sˈɪvɪk ɹɪpˈʌblɪkənˌɪzəm/
fixed phrase
formal
Citizen-focused republican theory
A theory of republics that says citizens should take an active part in public life and work for the common good.
Examples
- Civic republicanism emphasizes participation rather than passive citizenship.
- The author uses civic republicanism to argue for stronger local democracy.
- In civic republicanism, freedom is often linked to shared political responsibility.
classical republicanism
1/klˈæsɪkəl ɹɪpˈʌblɪkənˌɪzəm/
fixed phrase
formal
Ancient republican tradition
Old ideas about republics from Greece, Rome, and later political thinkers, especially ideas about public duty and good citizenship.
Examples
- Classical republicanism influenced many eighteenth-century political writers.
- The lecture traced the idea of civic virtue back to classical republicanism.
- Some scholars see the founders' language about corruption as evidence of classical republicanism.
irish republicanism
1/ˈaɪɹɪʃ ɹɪpˈʌblɪkənˌɪzəm/
fixed phrase
United Irish republic movement
The belief that Ireland should be an independent republic, usually including both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Examples
- Irish republicanism has played a major role in the politics of Northern Ireland.
- The documentary explores the history of Irish republicanism in the twentieth century.
- Some parties support Irish republicanism through constitutional and electoral means.
small-r republicanism
1/smˈɔl ˈɑɹ ɹɪpˈʌblɪkənˌɪzəm/
fixed phrase
informal
Non-party republican beliefs
Support for republican ideas without meaning the Republican Party.
Examples
- She described her position as small-r republicanism, not support for any particular party.
- In Australia, small-r republicanism is about replacing the monarchy with a republic.
- The writer carefully distinguished small-r republicanism from American Republicanism.