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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Robb and Paul met back in March 2016 while reading at a communal table at what is now called Partner’s Coffee in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025 Activities and Experiences The handsome lodge has a communal outdoor pool overlooking the Boro River. Travis Levius, Travel + Leisure, 29 Nov. 2025 Social wellness is becoming a major driver, with more people visiting spas together and drawing inspiration from communal traditions like Russian banyas and Japanese onsens. Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025 The since-shuttered Underground Museum in Los Angeles — started by his late brother, artist Noah Davis, and his late father, prominent sports and entertainment attorney Keven Davis — had become a communal gathering spot for Black artists and cultural figures. Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 26 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for communal

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Communal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communal. Accessed 3 Dec. 2025.

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

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