Republic /(r?-p?b"l?k)/

Re·pub·lic

Republic

n.
  1. Common weal. [Obs.]
  2. A state in which the sovereign power resides in the whole body of the people, and is exercised by representatives elected by them; a commonwealth. Cf. Democracy, 2.

Phrases & Compounds
Republic of letters
The collective body of literary or learned men.