community

com·mu·ni·ty

noun, often attributive \kə-ˈmyü-nə-tē\

plural com·mu·ni·ties

Definition of COMMUNITY

1

: a unified body of individuals: as a : state, commonwealth b : the people with common interests living in a particular area; broadly : the area itself <the problems of a large community> c : an interacting population of various kinds of individuals (as species) in a common location d : a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society <a community of retired persons> e : a group linked by a common policy f : a body of persons or nations having a common history or common social, economic, and political interests <the international community> g : a body of persons of common and especially professional interests scattered through a larger society <the academic community>

2

: society at large

3

a : joint ownership or participation <community of goods> b : common character : likeness <community of interests> c : social activity : fellowship d : a social state or condition

Examples of COMMUNITY

1. a respectable member of the community
2. The festival was a great way for the local community to get together.
3. Many communities are facing budget problems.
4. People in the community wanted better police protection.

Origin of COMMUNITY

Middle English comunete, from Anglo-French communité, from Latin communitat-, communitas, from communis

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to COMMUNITY

Synonyms: neighborhood

Antonyms: difference, disagreement, discrepancy, disparateness, disparity, dissimilarity, dissimilitude, distinctiveness, distinctness, unlikeness

Related Words: city, commune, hamlet, town, village; denizens, dwellers, inhabitants, residents; citizenry, culture, people, populace, public, society

Near Antonyms: loner; individualist

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Sociology Terms

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

Rhymes with COMMUNITY

disunity, immunity, impunity