Commonwealth country
1
3.2
- noun
:
país de la Commonwealth
- As a Commonwealth country, New Zealand shares a historical connection with the United Kingdom.
Examples
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Australia is a Commonwealth country, which offers various benefits to its citizens through its membership.
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Canada is a vibrant Commonwealth country known for its diverse culture and landscapes.
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We are a Commonwealth country, Father.
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Third, they may also be denied entry to Commonwealth countries.
Academic text (1990) -
They were deported by the British government to Commonwealth countries including Australia until as recently as the 1960s, often without their parents being told.
Academic text (2011) -
A teaching credential from a Commonwealth country is highly prized overseas—far more than our own now.
Blog text (29)
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a country that is a member of the Commonwealth' is directly and compositionally derivable from 'commonwealth' (an organization of countries with shared ties) plus 'country' (a nation). This noun–noun combination follows a straightforward membership/association pattern that a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily interpret.
Etymology
Commonwealth country comes from the older word Commonwealth, which literally joins common, meaning shared, and wealth, meaning the public good. So a Commonwealth country today is a 'member' of a group of nations that share history and links with Britain.