1. A nation, state, or other political unit (the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania). [Cases: States
1. C.J.S. States §§ 2, 16.]
2. A political unit that has local autonomy but is voluntarily united with the United States (Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands are commonwealths). Cf. DEPENDENCY(1); INSULAR AREA; TERRITORY(2).
3. A loose association of countries that recognize one sovereign (the British Com-monwealth). • In this context, in Great Britain, the term British has been dropped from British Commonwealth; BrE speakers refer simply to the Commonwealth. — Abbr. Commw.; comm.
4. The central (federal) power in Australia. — Abbr. (in sense 4) Cwth.
