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
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
With Ramadan coming to an end and Eid al-Fitr starting, what is typically a time of celebration and communal prayer has been upended across the Middle East, as ongoing strikes reshape one of the holiest periods for Muslims.
—
Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
Produced by Jeff Rosenstock, the new album from ex-Cayetana songwriter Augusta Koch revisits her old band’s punky power-pop with hard-hitting lyrics about self-improvement and communal uplift.
—Tatiana Tenreyro, Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 2026
Dining is communal, indoors or outside, and serves as both nourishment and education, sometimes with nutrition talks included.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2026
Many accommodations feature private open-air baths supplied by Hakone’s volcanic hot springs, while the communal baths overlook verdant, wooded hillsides.
—Kelsey Eisen, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for communal
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Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
Produced by Jeff Rosenstock, the new album from ex-Cayetana songwriter Augusta Koch revisits her old band’s punky power-pop with hard-hitting lyrics about self-improvement and communal uplift.
—Tatiana Tenreyro, Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 2026
Dining is communal, indoors or outside, and serves as both nourishment and education, sometimes with nutrition talks included.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2026
Many accommodations feature private open-air baths supplied by Hakone’s volcanic hot springs, while the communal baths overlook verdant, wooded hillsides.
—Kelsey Eisen, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 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 22 Mar. 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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