communion

noun com·mu·nion \ kə-ˈmyü-nyən \

|Updated on: 16 Aug 2018

Definition of communion

1 : an act or instance of sharing

2 a capitalized : a Christian sacrament in which consecrated bread and wine are consumed as memorials of Christ's death or as symbols for the realization of a spiritual union between Christ and communicant or as the body and blood of Christ

b : the act of receiving Communion

c capitalized : the part of a Communion service in which the sacrament is received

3 : intimate fellowship or rapport : communication

sat alone on the mountain, in communion with the wilderness

4 : a body of Christians having a common faith and discipline

the Anglican communion

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Examples of communion in a Sentence

She went to the front of the church for Communion.
gradually established a feeling of communion with her fellow physicians

Recent Examples of communion from the Web

That’s the set Butler-Gee used Sunday during the communion service.

— julie zauzmer, Washington Post, "This 400-year-old church is older than almost any institution in America," 9 May 2018
This show includes more than 150 examples – sewing boxes, jewelry boxes, communion boxes, picture frames, small furniture pieces — from the United States and seven other countries.

— anita gates, New York Times, "From 12th Century B.C. to 2017, Art in Startling Variety," 7 Mar. 2018
Meghan Markle also underwent the rite there before her wedding, and Kate Middleton took communion in the space ahead of her own nuptials.

— caroline picard, Good Housekeeping, "Prince Louis's Christening Details: The Date, Venue, and What We Know About His Godparents," 20 June 2018
The chapel has also been the site of royal baptisms, communions, marriages and burials.

— joanna pocock, latimes.com, "Watching the royal wedding on the telly? Here's what you need to know about St. George's Chapel and Windsor Castle," 13 May 2018
Still, their forms speak to abiding; their number speaks to communion; their emptiness speaks to loss.

— cate mcquaid, BostonGlobe.com, "Liz Shepherd and Michelle Lougee make the mundane memorable," 27 June 2018
Those walking past First Church Seattle were greeted by Peter Jabin and Izzy Alvaran, who offered communion to people on the streets.

— michelle baruchman, The Seattle Times, "Seattle’s Pride Parade goes ‘Beyond Borders’," 25 June 2018
With its mortifications and sense of worldwide communion, the World Cup—which begins on June 14th—is a kind of global religion.

— The Economist, "When drama and beauty turn the World Cup into art," 7 June 2018
This group of separate churches are known as the Anglican Communion, but the mother church is still the Church of England with the Archbishop of Canterbury as the united head of the communion.

— lyndsey matthews, Good Housekeeping, "What Religion Is the Royal Family?," 17 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'communion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of communion

Middle English, from Latin communion-, communio mutual participation, from communis — see ¹common

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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communion Synonyms

COMMUNION Defined for English Language Learners

communion

noun

Definition of communion for English Language Learners

Communion : a Christian ceremony in which bread is eaten and wine is drunk as a way of showing devotion to Jesus Christ
: a close relationship with someone or something
: a group of Christians who have the same beliefs