republicanism
|re-pub-li-can-ism|
🇺🇸
/rɪˈpʌblɪkənɪzəm/
🇬🇧
/rɪˈpʌblɪkənɪz(ə)m/
rule by the people; opposition to monarchy
Etymology
'republicanism' originates from Latin via English formations: from 'republic' + suffix '-an' + '-ism'. 'Republic' ultimately comes from the Latin phrase 'res publica' where 'res' meant 'thing' or 'affair' and 'publica' meant 'public'.
'republic' came into English from Old French 'republique', which derived from Latin 'res publica'; the adjective/noun compounds such as 'republican' and then the abstract noun 'republicanism' were formed in English to denote the principles associated with a republic.
Initially tied to the literal phrase 'res publica' meaning 'public thing' or 'public affairs', the term evolved to denote the political system of a republic and later the broader ideological doctrines (the current meaning) about representative government and anti-monarchism.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the political principle or ideology that government should be a republic — that is, a state without a monarchy — emphasizing representative government, civic virtue, and the rule of law.
Supporters of republicanism argued that power should rest with elected representatives rather than a hereditary monarch.
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Noun 2
a theory or doctrine emphasizing citizens' participation, public freedom, and limitations on corruption and concentrated power (often called 'civic republicanism' in political theory).
Civic republicanism prioritizes active citizenship and policies that limit undue influence by elites, a strand of thought within republicanism.
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Noun 3
(Capitalized or in some contexts) Support for or alignment with the U.S. Republican Party or its policies — usage depends on context and capitalization.
In modern discourse, 'Republicanism' can sometimes be used to describe alignment with the Republican Party, though the broader ideological meaning is distinct.
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Last updated: 2025/11/06 22:14