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
communally
adverb
com·mu·nal·ize
kə-ˈmyü-nə-ˌlīz
ˈkäm-yə-nə-
-ed/-ing/-s
Examples of communal in a Sentence
Adjective
The tribe lived in communal huts.
the communal experience of riding on the train
Recent Examples on the Web
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 4 June 2026
The space seats 85 diners inside and almost 40 outside and still includes a communal table.
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
The lens widened further to embrace categories of practice not conventionally regarded as art, most prominently, craft; here, too, the art establishment focused on textiles and ceramics engaged with an existing modernism, as opposed to the 1970s focus on regional and communal networks.
—Katy Siegel, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Regardless of gender, those who apologize more frequently are seen as caring, communal, warm and likable people, according to Schumann.
—Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for communal
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Adjective
Multiple generations of Neolithic designers relied on communal teamwork and clever construction techniques to precisely place each of the site’s gigantic megaliths about 5,000 years ago.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 4 June 2026
The space seats 85 diners inside and almost 40 outside and still includes a communal table.
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
The lens widened further to embrace categories of practice not conventionally regarded as art, most prominently, craft; here, too, the art establishment focused on textiles and ceramics engaged with an existing modernism, as opposed to the 1970s focus on regional and communal networks.
—Katy Siegel, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Regardless of gender, those who apologize more frequently are seen as caring, communal, warm and likable people, according to Schumann.
—Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for communal
Cite this Entry
“Communal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communal. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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