fourth republic: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Academic, Historical, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “fourth republic” mean?
The republican regime of France that lasted from 1946 to 1958.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The republican regime of France that lasted from 1946 to 1958.
A specific historical period in French political history, characterized by parliamentary instability, colonial wars, and economic reconstruction following WWII, which ended with the crisis leading to Charles de Gaulle's return and the establishment of the Fifth Republic.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage; both use it exclusively to refer to the French historical period.
Connotations
Associated with political instability, weak executive power, and colonial conflicts (Indochina, Algeria).
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse; appears primarily in historical, political science, or European studies contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “fourth republic” in a Sentence
the Fourth Republic (of France) lasted from...to...during the Fourth Republicthe collapse/end/fall of the Fourth RepublicVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fourth republic” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Fourth Republic constitution was inherently unstable.
- He was a Fourth Republic politician.
American English
- Fourth Republic politics were notoriously fragmented.
- A classic Fourth Republic crisis.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in history and political science texts discussing modern France, European political systems, decolonisation.
Everyday
Extremely rare outside specific educational or news contexts about French history.
Technical
A precise historical term with defined start and end dates.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “fourth republic”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “fourth republic”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fourth republic”
- Writing it in lower case ('fourth republic'). Using it to refer generically to any fourth republic elsewhere. Confusing it with the Third or Fifth Republic.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It was established on 13 October 1946 and ended on 4 October 1958, when the Fifth Republic constitution was adopted.
Its collapse was primarily triggered by the Algerian Crisis of 1958, which exposed the weaknesses of its parliamentary system and led to a military-civilian uprising demanding Charles de Gaulle's return to power.
Yes, because it is a proper noun referring to a specific historical entity, much like 'Victorian Era' or 'Renaissance'.
While other countries may have had a fourth republican period (e.g., South Korea), the term 'Fourth Republic' in English, without further qualification, almost exclusively refers to the French one due to its significance in Western political history.
The republican regime of France that lasted from 1946 to 1958.
Fourth republic is usually academic, historical, journalistic in register.
Fourth republic: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɔːθ rɪˈpʌblɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɔrθ rɪˈpʌblɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A 'Fourth Republic' situation (rare, implying political paralysis)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
"Four years after WWII, France formed its FOURTH Republic, but it was flawed and fell in '58."
Conceptual Metaphor
POLITICAL SYSTEMS ARE BUILDINGS (It was constructed, it collapsed, it had a weak foundation).
Practice
Quiz
The Fourth Republic refers specifically to: