communion

noun

com·​mu·​nion kə-ˈmyü-nyən 

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

Synonyms

• solidarity
• friendship
• fellowship
• unity
• rapprochement
• rapport

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 on the Web

So, what better way to mark the day 160 years ago when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, on to spread the news that slavery had been outlawed — two years earlier — than to spend it in communion with her family's past. —Vanessa Romo, NPR, 19 June 2025

Garages, lousy bars, the corners of parking lots where allied coworkers chain smoke—DeYoung is arguing, again and again, that these totally unremarkable scraps of communion are the antidote to the latent evil that comes with isolation. —Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 22 May 2025

The title represents the fusion of opposing concepts into a complete whole, the Eastern philosophy of yin and yang, as well as a lifelong communion with nature. —Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 29 Apr. 2025

Even some of my own family members have opted out of attending weekly mass, and missing out on receiving communion. —Laura Castañeda, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing communion

• post-communion
• self-communion

Rhymes for communion

• disunion
• nonunion
• antiunion
• union

Kids Definition

communion

noun

com·​mu·​nion kə-ˈmyü-nyən 

1

capitalized

a

: a Christian sacrament in which bread and wine are partaken of as a commemoration of the last supper of Jesus

b

: the part of the Mass in which the Eucharist is received

2

: friendly communication

3

: a body of Christians having a common faith and discipline