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( Res publica)
Res publica is a Latin phrase, literally meaning "public thing" or "public matter". It is the origin of the word 'Republic', though translations vary widely according to the context. Dictionary lists the following meanings "the common wealth, a commonwealth, state, republic (cf. civitas); also, civil affairs, administration, or power, etc.", which are elucidated below Taking everything together that is of public interest leads to the connotation that the res publica in general equals the state. For Romans this equalled of course also the Imperium Romanum, and all its interests, so Res Publica could as well refer to the Roman Empire as a whole (regardless of whether it was governed as a republic or under imperial reign). In this context scholars suggest "commonwealth" as a more accurate and neutral translation of the term, while neither implying republican nor imperial connotations, just a reference to the state as a whole. But even translating res publica as "republic" when it clearly refers to the Roman Empire under Imperial reign occurs (see quotes below). Roman authors would also use the word res publica in the sense of the epoch when Rome was governed as a republic, that is the epoch between the Roman Kingdom and the Roman Empire. So in this case res publica does distinctly not refer to the Roman Empire, but to what is generally described as the Roman Republic.
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