# republic

/ɹiˈpəbɫək/ (US) · /ɹɪpˈʌblɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/republic
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. government without a monarch

noun · CEFR B1

a country that is governed by elected representatives and an elected leader, such as a president, instead of a king or queen.

For teachers: A sovereign state in which supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them.

- After the revolution, the country became a republic and elected its first president.
- The transition from a constitutional monarchy to a federal republic required significant amendments to the nation's founding legal documents.

### 2. a political subdivision

noun · CEFR B2

a specific region or province within a larger country that has its own government, common in places like Russia.

For teachers: A constituent political unit or administrative division within certain federal states, notably used in the Russian Federation or the former Soviet Union.

- The traveler visited several different republics during his trip across Central Asia.
- The autonomous republic maintained its own legislative assembly while remaining a formal part of the larger federal union.

### 3. the Roman Republic

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

the period of ancient Roman civilization when it was governed by elected officials before it became an empire.

For teachers: The historical era of ancient Roman civilization beginning with the overthrow of the Roman Kingdom and ending with the establishment of the Roman Empire.

- In history class, we learned how the Roman Republic was governed by the Senate.
- Scholars often debate the exact moment when the institutions of the Republic finally collapsed under the weight of military dictatorship.

## Examples

- France is a republic with an elected president.
- After the revolution, the country abolished the monarchy and established a republic to give citizens a voice in government.
- The transition from a monarchy to a republic required drafting a new constitution that carefully balanced power between the executive branch and the newly formed parliament.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.