Republican

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ɹɪˈpÊŒblɪkÉ™n/

Origin

From republic + -an, partly after French républicain.

Full definition of republican

Adjective

1. Advocating or supporting a republic as a form of government. from 17th c.
• 2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin 2003, p. 222:Republican ideology had no obvious institutional focus and ideological carrier as was the case with the discourse of reason (the monarchy) and the discourse of law (the parlements).
2. Of or belonging to a republic. from 17th c.
• MacaulayThe Roman emperors were republican magistrates named by the senate.

Noun

1. Someone who favors a republic as a form of government. from 17th c.
• 1791, James Boswell, Life of Samuel Johnson:Sir, there is one Mrs Macaulay in this town, a great republican. One day when I was at her house, I put on a very grave countenance, and said to her, 'Madam, I am now become a convert to your way of thinking. I am convinced that all mankind are upon an equal footing...'
2. A bird of a kind that builds many nests together: the American cliff swallow, or the South African weaver bird.