republican

Etymology

From republic + -an, partly after French républicain.

adj

1. Advocating or supporting a republic as a form of government, advocating or supporting republicanism.
   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). 2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin, published 2003, page 222
2. Of or belonging to a republic.
3. Alternative letter-case form of Republican.

noun

1. Someone who favors a republic as a form of government.
   I guess I am a bit of a republican at heart but I would love to be introduced to the Prince just to be able to grip him off about seeing the Noisy Scrub-bird. 2005, Sean Dooley, The Big Twitch, Sydney: Allen and Unwin, page 247
   Nationalists and republicans need to adopt a new approach to convince unionists of the merits of uniting Ireland, Gerry Adams has said. 24 June 2017, David Young, “New approach needed to convince unionists about United Ireland, Adams tell conference”, in Independent.ie
   A son of slain republicans Dominic and Mary McGlinchey has brought Hight Court actions claiming the State has failed to properly investigate his parents' murders. 2023-08-01, “Son of slain republicans brings actions”, in Irish Times, page 4
2. A bird of a kind that builds many nests together: the American cliff swallow, or the South African weaver bird.