commonwealth of independent states: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Political, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “commonwealth of independent states” mean?
A regional intergovernmental organization and political union formed in 1991, comprising most of the former Soviet republics.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A regional intergovernmental organization and political union formed in 1991, comprising most of the former Soviet republics.
A geopolitical entity representing a framework for cooperation among post-Soviet states, primarily in the realms of economics, security, and legislative harmonization. It signifies the formalized political and economic ties that succeeded the dissolution of the USSR.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical. The acronym 'CIS' is universally used.
Connotations
Both varieties carry the same geopolitical and historical connotations related to the post-Soviet space.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK media due to greater historical focus on European/ Eurasian political blocs, but the difference is marginal.
Grammar
How to Use “commonwealth of independent states” in a Sentence
[The] Commonwealth of Independent States + [verb: signed, agreed, convened][Country] is a member of the Commonwealth of Independent StatesCooperation within the Commonwealth of Independent StatesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “commonwealth of independent states” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- CIS-wide regulations
- a CIS initiative
American English
- CIS-based trade
- a CIS agreement
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to trade agreements, customs unions, or economic regulations specific to the member states.
Academic
Used in political science, history, and international relations to analyze post-Soviet integration and geopolitics.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; appears in news reports about the region.
Technical
Used in legal and diplomatic documents pertaining to treaties, membership, and intergovernmental procedures.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “commonwealth of independent states”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “commonwealth of independent states”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “commonwealth of independent states”
- Incorrect capitalization ('commonwealth of independent states').
- Using 'the' incorrectly before the acronym ('the CIS' is correct).
- Confusing it with other commonwealths like the Commonwealth of Nations.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The CIS is a voluntary association of independent countries that replaced the USSR, which was a single federal state.
As of 2024, members include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Ukraine and Turkmenistan are former participants with special statuses.
Its stated purposes are cooperation in political, economic, environmental, humanitarian, cultural, and other domains between its member states.
No, it is not a collective defence pact. While it has agreements on military cooperation, its primary focus is economic and political coordination.
A regional intergovernmental organization and political union formed in 1991, comprising most of the former Soviet republics.
Commonwealth of independent states is usually formal, academic, political, journalistic in register.
Commonwealth of independent states: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒmənwelθ əv ˌɪndɪpendənt ˈsteɪts/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɑːmənwelθ əv ˌɪndɪpendənt ˈsteɪts/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A 'Common Wealth' of nations that became 'Independent' after the Soviet Union dissolved, now working as 'States' together.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FAMILY OF FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS (siblings who have left the parental home but maintain ties).
Practice
Quiz
What does the acronym 'CIS' stand for?