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 assault by federal agents was an attack on something pre-political, on parts of our communal existence that people, in normal times, take for granted. —Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026

Start your morning off right in The Living Room, an especially cozy slopeside communal space that serves a daily breakfast buffet. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026

Those records were also used to aid federal assimilation efforts and chip away at tribal sovereignty, communal lands and identity. —Graham Lee Brewer, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026

Turnpike Troubadours shows are communal affairs — a blend of high-energy jams and heartfelt ballads. —Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 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