republic of ireland: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Political, Geographical
Quick answer
What does “republic of ireland” mean?
The official name of the sovereign state comprising most of the island of Ireland, excluding Northern Ireland.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The official name of the sovereign state comprising most of the island of Ireland, excluding Northern Ireland.
In common usage, often used to refer to the country simply as 'Ireland'. It denotes the political entity with its capital in Dublin, distinct from the geographical island of Ireland.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical, though in British media and political discourse, 'Republic of Ireland' is more frequently used to make the distinction from Northern Ireland explicit.
Connotations
Neutral and factual. In some political contexts in the UK, using 'Republic of Ireland' can signal a formal recognition of the state's constitutional status.
Frequency
More frequent in UK English, especially in contexts involving Northern Ireland. In US English, 'Ireland' is overwhelmingly preferred in general discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “republic of ireland” in a Sentence
the Republic of Ireland + verb (is, has, borders)in/to/from the Republic of IrelandVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “republic of ireland” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Republic of Ireland team performed well.
- It's a Republic of Ireland passport.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in contracts and trade agreements to specify jurisdiction, e.g., 'Goods are sourced from the Republic of Ireland.'
Academic
Used in political science, history, and geography to denote the specific sovereign state.
Everyday
Rare in casual talk; 'Ireland' is used. Might be used for clarity when discussing travel or differences with Northern Ireland.
Technical
Essential in legal, diplomatic, EU, and sporting (e.g., FIFA, IOC) contexts to specify the official entity.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “republic of ireland”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “republic of ireland”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “republic of ireland”
- Using 'Republic of Ireland' in everyday contexts where 'Ireland' is natural (e.g., 'I'm going to Republic of Ireland on holiday').
- Using it as an adjective (e.g., 'Republic of Ireland music' instead of 'Irish music').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In most contexts, yes, they refer to the same country. 'Republic of Ireland' is the official description of the state, used formally to distinguish it from the island of Ireland.
Use it in formal, legal, diplomatic, or sporting contexts, or whenever you need to be explicitly clear that you are referring to the sovereign state and not the entire geographical island.
In everyday conversation, no. They almost always call it 'Ireland' or, in Irish, 'Éire'. They call themselves Irish and their country Ireland.
The Republic of Ireland is an independent sovereign state. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom. Together, they make up the island of Ireland.
The official name of the sovereign state comprising most of the island of Ireland, excluding Northern Ireland.
Republic of ireland is usually formal, political, geographical in register.
Republic of ireland: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˌpʌblɪk əv ˈaɪələnd/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɪˌpʌblɪk əv ˈaɪrələnd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: REPUBLIC = a state without a monarchy. IRELAND = the island. The REPUBLIC OF IRELAND is the part of the island that is a republic.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CONTAINER (for its citizens, laws, and culture); A POLITICAL ENTITY (contrasted with a geographical entity).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'Republic of Ireland' MOST necessary?