communal

adjective

com·​mu·​nal kə-ˈmyü-nᵊl 

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

kə-ˈmyü-nə-ˌlīz 

ˈkäm-yə-

transitive verb

communally adverb

Synonyms of communal

• collective
• collaborative
• joint
• combined
• mutual

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

The kids are encouraged to eat together in a communal dining room. — Michael Rios, CNN Money, 30 June 2026

Here, guests hand in their devices on arrival, wear shared clothing to strip back status and move through entirely tech-free communal spaces. — Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

The World Cup is in a bit of a lull right now, as the chaos of the sprawling group stage, with its communal good vibes, gives way to the business end of the tournament. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 27 June 2026

Whole hogs, widely available and suitable for slow, open-fire cooking that fed large communal gatherings, became central to the area’s emerging cuisine. — Amethyst Ganaway, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, from Late Latin communalis, from Latin communis

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing communal

• inter-communal

Rhymes for communal

• jejunal
• lagoonal
• monsoonal
• tribunal
• intercommunal

Kids Definition

communal

adjective

com·​mu·​nal kə-ˈmyün-ᵊl 

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