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 There, he’s often reminded that cinema is a big screen, communal experience. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 27 Sep. 2024 For Vyas, mismatched floors is a problem when your primary communal areas are noticeably inconsistent. Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 24 Sep. 2024 The vibe: Comfy and super cute — full of house plants, bright colors, patterns and communal seating areas. Arika Herron, Axios, 23 Sep. 2024 Their success also suggests that what theaters provide — the communal experience of sharing a movie with like-minded people — remains a distinct asset, separate from home platforms. Tom Brueggemann, IndieWire, 11 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for communal 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'communal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near communal

Cite this Entry

“Communal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communal. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!