républicain

Républicain is a French term that functions as both an adjective and a noun. As an adjective, it denotes things related to a republic or to republican principles. As a noun, it can refer to a person who supports a republican form of government or who aligns with republican politics. The feminine form is républicaine. The word derives from République, itself from Latin res publica.

Historically, the term dates to debates over monarchy versus republic during the French Revolution. In that period and in later phases of French history, républicains identified supporters of a non-monarchical state. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the label covered a broad range of ideologies—from liberal, secular republicans to more radical democrats—and remained common in political discourse in the Third Republic (1870–1940).

In contemporary usage, républicain generally denotes a commitment to republican governance and civic equality, often in opposition to monarchist or authoritarian alternatives. It is also employed as a descriptor for members or supporters of the political party Les Républicains (LR), the centre-right force formed in 2015 from predecessor parties such as the UMP.

Beyond France, the term is used in other Francophone contexts to describe republican ideology, including in Belgium and Canada. In each setting, the term can carry different historical associations and party alignments, but its core meaning remains the advocacy of a government elected by the people and founded on republican principles.