republic

/rɪˈpʌblɪk/

/rɛˈpʌblɪk/

Other forms: republics

If you live in a republic, then you live in a country with a leader freely and democratically elected by the people, as opposed to a dictatorship or monarchy.

Ancient Rome, before it started declining and falling all over the place, was a republic, and so is the United States. Republics have what are termed "republican" forms of government — not to be confused with Republican-with-a-big-R, as in the American political party. If you live in a "Banana Republic" you probably live in a tiny Caribbean island run by a dictator. Or you're spending too much time at the mall.

Definitions of republic

1. noun

   a form of government whose head of state is not a monarch
   “the head of state in a republic is usually a president”

   examples:

   Roman Republic

   the ancient Roman state from 509 BC until Augustus assumed power in 27 BC; was governed by an elected Senate but dissatisfaction with the Senate led to civil wars that culminated in a brief dictatorship by Julius Caesar

   type of:

   form of government, political system

   the members of a social organization who are in power
2. noun

   a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them
   synonyms: commonwealth, democracy

   types:

   Weimar Republic

   the German republic founded at Weimar in 1919

   parliamentary democracy

   a democracy having a parliament

   type of:

   form of government, political system

   the members of a social organization who are in power