commonwealth

Universal Words noun [sing.] 1 (the Commonwealth) an organization consisting of the United Kingdom and most of the countries that used to be part of the British Empire: a member of the Commonwealth * Commonwealth countries 2 (usually the Commonwealth) used in the official names of, and to refer to, some states of the US (Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia): the Commonwealth of Virginia * The city and the Commonwealth have lost a great leader. 3 (AmE) an independent country that is strongly connected to the US: Puerto Rico remains a US commonwealth, not a state. 4 (usually Commonwealth) used in the names of some groups of countries or states that have chosen to be politically linked with each other: the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)