communal

adjective

com·​mu·​nal kə-ˈmyü-nᵊl How to pronounce communal (audio)
ˈkäm-yə-nᵊl
1
: of or relating to one or more communes
a communal organization
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
a communal kitchen
gathered for a communal meal
4
: of, relating to, or based on racial or cultural groups
communal violence
communalize transitive verb
communally adverb

Examples of communal in a Sentence

The tribe lived in communal huts. the communal experience of riding on the train
Recent Examples on the Web There are no dormitories at Salk, so the players are housed in a seven-bedroom apartment a mile from campus, developing the sort of chemistry that comes from the communal realization that someone has to wash the dishes piled in the sink. Billy Witz, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 That includes many more efforts to get bettors engaged with a gambling company's brand, to accommodate their fondness for social media and communal activity, and to target experiences to their interests. Wayne Parry, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2024 Ramadan ends with the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which many Muslims celebrate by dressing up in new clothes, making communal prayers and gifting money to children. Sarah Dadouch, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 Soaking beneath the stars in a private hot tub after a culinary safari at the Social Haus, the property's restaurant, bar, and communal gathering space. Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2024 But unlike The Fiesta, these are communal living, two-to-a-room, with 24-hour board and care in what’s called adult residential facilities. Francine Kiefer, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Mar. 2024 And then this beautiful thing also happens with that altruism where we are focused on the communal good versus an individual good. Holly Corbett, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Over the years, Felder said he’s been moved to tears many times at the sing-alongs, not just for the beauty of the music but for the communal experience itself. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2024 The Canyon will have an array of wellness amenities, including wellness parks with yoga decks, meditation spaces, and cold plunges, as well as pools, spas, and outdoor communal kitchens. Emma Reynolds, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'communal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, from Late Latin communalis, from Latin communis

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of communal was in 1796

Dictionary Entries Near communal

Cite this Entry

“Communal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communal. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

communal

adjective
com·​mu·​nal kə-ˈmyün-ᵊl How to pronounce communal (audio)
ˈkäm-yən-ᵊl
1
: of or relating to a commune or community
2
: shared or used in common by members of a group or community

More from Merriam-Webster on communal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!