English Reference

Word

republican

Phoneticsre·pub·li·can, stress on the second syllable

US/ɹiˈpəbɫəkən/

UK/ɹɪpˈʌblɪkən/

Definitions

01supporter of a republic

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. someone who believes a country should be a republic, which means it is led by elected people rather than a king or queen.

n. an advocate of a republic as a form of government, specifically one in which the head of state is not a monarch.

“After the revolution, many people became republicans and wanted to elect their own leader.”

“The transition from a monarchy to a democratic state was driven by a vocal group of republicans who demanded a constitution.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

monarchistroyalist

02US political party member

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun American English

n. a member or supporter of the Republican Party in the United States.

n. a member or supporter of the Republican Party, one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States.

“The local republican candidate promised to lower taxes if he won the election.”

“The senator has been a lifelong Republican, consistently voting in favour of fiscal conservatism and reduced federal oversight.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

03Irish nationalist

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun British English · Dialect

n. in Ireland, someone who wants Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to be one single country.

n. a person who advocates for a united Irish republic, often associated with a specific nationalist political tradition.

“The history book explains the conflict between republicans and unionists in Belfast.”

“The peace process required extensive negotiations between republican leaders and those who wished to remain part of the United Kingdom.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

04relating to a republic

B1 · Intermediate

adj. relating to a republic or the idea that people should choose their leaders.

adj. pertaining to, characteristic of, or supporting a republic as a system of government.

“The country has a republican system where the president is elected every four years.”

“The scholars debated whether the new constitution truly reflected republican ideals of liberty and civic participation.”

Antonyms

monarchical

Usage

Always capitalized when referring to the specific American political party; lower-case 'republican' refers to someone who supports a republic as a form of government.

Etymology

From republican (“favoring a republic”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Frequency
Common
Level
B1 · Intermediate
Updated

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