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'''Commonwealth''' is a term mainly meaning 'republic', 'dominion, 'state' or even 'free state'. It was the term used to describe the British state by the Cromwellians from 1649 until the restoration of the British monarchy in 1660.

'''Commonwealth''' is a term mainly meaning 'republic', 'dominion, 'state' or even 'free state'. It was the term used to describe the British state by the Cromwellians from 1649 until the restoration of the British monarchy in 1660.

It occurs in the formal names of several US states, as with [[Pennsylvania]], and is similarly used by the US territory of [[Puerto Rico]]. The most common modern reference to commonwealth refers to [[Australia]], [[Canada]], and other former British colonies where [[English]] is primarily spoken as the first language.

It occurs in the formal names of several US states, as with [[Pennsylvania]], and is similarly used by the US territory of [[Puerto Rico]]. The most common modern reference to commonwealth is the the [[Commonwealth of Nations]]. This includes many countries formerly in the British Empire such as [[Australia]], [[Canada]], [[South Africa]], [[India]] and [[Pakistan]] to mention a few.

 

[[Australia]] is refered to as the Commonwealth of Australia.