communal

com·mu·nal

adjective \kə-ˈmyü-n^əl, ˈkäm-yə-n^əl\

: shared or used by members of a group or community

: relating to or involving members of a commune (sense 1)

: relating to a situation in which you are doing something with other people

Full Definition of COMMUNAL

1

:  of or relating to one or more communes

2

:  of or relating to a community

3

a :  characterized by collective ownership and use of property

b :  participated in, shared, or used in common by members of a group or community

4

:  of, relating to, or based on racial or cultural groups

— com·mu·nal·ize \kə-ˈmyü-nə-ˌlīz, ˈkäm-yə-\ transitive verb

— com·mu·nal·ly adverb

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Examples of COMMUNAL

1. The tribe lived in communal huts.
2. the communal experience of riding on the train

Origin of COMMUNAL

French, from Late Latin communalis, from Latin communis

First Known Use: 1800

Related to COMMUNAL

Synonyms

collaborative, combined, common, collective, concerted, conjoint, conjunct, cooperative, joint, multiple, mutual, pooled, public, shared, united

Antonyms

exclusive, individual, one-man, one-sided, one-way, single, sole, solitary, unilateral

Related Words

bilateral, consensual, reciprocal, symbiotic, synergic, synergistic, two-way; mass, popular; general, generic, universal

Near Antonyms

personal, private; independent, separate, several; esoteric, particular, special, specialized

Other Sociology Terms

bourgeois, ethos, eugenics, exurb, incommunicado, intelligentsia, megalopolis, metrosexual, mores, subculture