community

noun

com·​mu·​ni·​ty kə-ˈmyü-nə-tē 

plural communities

often attributive

1

: a unified body of individuals: such as

a

: the people with common interests living in a particular area

broadly : the area itself

the problems of a large community

b

: a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society

a community of retired persons

a monastic community

c

: a body of persons of common and especially professional interests scattered through a larger society

the academic community

the scientific community

d

: a body of persons or nations having a common history or common social, economic, and political interests

the international community

e

: a group linked by a common policy

f

: an interacting population of various kinds of individuals (such as species) in a common location

g

: state, commonwealth

2

a

: a social state or condition

The school encourages a sense of community in its students.

b

: joint ownership or participation

community of goods

c

: common character : likeness

community of interests

d

: social activity : fellowship

3

: society at large

the interests of the community

Synonyms

• town
• neighborhood
• city
• village
• commune

Examples of community in a Sentence

a respectable member of the community

The festival was a great way for the local community to get together.

Many communities are facing budget problems.

People in the community wanted better police protection.

Recent Examples on the Web

Donations from colleagues and community members helped the family stay afloat. —Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 27 Sep. 2025

Jon Devine, senior economist at Cotton Incorporated, keeps key stakeholders in the textile and investment communities informed via timely market analyses of commodity economics and factors influencing their stability. —Sj Guest Editorial, Sourcing Journal, 26 Sep. 2025

For travelers across the Carolinas and beyond, visiting this season is a powerful way to support local communities in their rebuilding efforts. —Charlotte Observer, 26 Sep. 2025

The firm began by interviewing the mayor and council members and later held in-person and virtual community meetings. —Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 26 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English comunete, from Anglo-French communité, from Latin communitat-, communitas, from communis — see common entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing community

• bedroom community
• business community
• community-acquired
• community antenna television
• community-associated
• community center
• community chest
• community college
• community immunity
• community property
• community service
• community spread
• community-supported agriculture
• community theater
• community transmission
• gated community
• inter-community
• speech community

Rhymes for community

• disunity
• immunity
• impunity
• autoimmunity
• importunity
• opportunity
• munity
• unity

Kids Definition

community

noun

com·​mu·​ni·​ty kə-ˈmyü-nət-ē 

plural communities

1

a

: the people living in an area

also : the area itself

b

: a group of living things that belong to one or more species, interact ecologically, and are located in one place (as a bog or pond)

c

: a group of people with common interests especially when living together

a community of monks

2

a

: shared ownership or participation

community of goods

b

: similarity sense 1, likeness

a community of ideas

c

: shared activity : fellowship

Medical Definition

community

noun

com·​mu·​ni·​ty kə-ˈmyü-nət-ē 

plural communities

: a unified body of individuals: as

a

: the people with common interests living in a particular area

broadly : the area itself

the problems of a large community

b

: an interacting population of various kinds of individuals (as species) in a common location

c

: a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society

a community of retired persons

Legal Definition

community

noun

com·​mu·​ni·​ty

plural communities

1

: the people who live in a particular place or region and usually are linked by some common interests

2

a

: the mass of community property owned by a husband and wife

a spouse may not…lease to a third person his undivided interest in the community or in particular things of the community

—Louisiana Civil Code

b

: the entity created upon the marriage of a husband and wife for the purposes of ownership of property in community property states see also community property at property, regime