What is a commonwealth state mean?

Commonwealth countries were all (one or two exceptions) colonised by or administered by Britain at some stage in the past and maintain an association that is apolitical and co-operation-based. read more

Commonwealth is a designation used by four of the 50 states of the United States in their full official state names: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. read more

The term literally meant "common well-being". In the 17th century, the definition of "commonwealth" expanded from its original sense of "public welfare" or "commonweal" to mean "a state in which the supreme power is vested in the people; a republic or democratic state". read more