communion

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noun com·mu·nion \ kə-ˈmyü-nyən \

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

See communion defined for English-language learners

See communion defined for kids

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

The presentation will be followed by a Communion service and luncheon.

— Daily Southtown, "Church news," 28 Aug. 2017
As parishioners rose from their pews to sing a hymn,pray or take communion, Pederson, a devout lifelong Roman Catholic, would follow.

— ken byron, courant.com, "Hartford Archdiocese Starts New Ministry For Deaf Catholics," 25 Aug. 2017
Some Christians are already using the eclipse to spread the gospel, while others are seeking another type of cosmic communion.

— rebecca boyle, The Atlantic, "Offbeat Ways to Enjoy the Total Eclipse," 19 Aug. 2017
The best flirt move was to smile demurely at Hot Trey from Sunday School on the way back to your pew after taking communion.

— hannah smothers, Cosmopolitan, "20 Things Christian Girls Remember SO Hard," 25 July 2017
A form of meditation, some form of communion with levels of yourself that are deeper than the ordinary self.

— stacy jones, Fortune, "raceAhead: Five Breaking News Haikus," 22 July 2017
Talk about a fitting choice, because this was as much a worship service as a concert, and every one of the thousands at the nearly sold-out home of the Indians was there to take communion from Father Billy.

— chuck yarborough, cleveland.com, "Billy Joel proves the good don't always die young (concert review, photos)," 14 July 2017
Catholics do not see the bread and wine consumed during communion as symbolic—

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Vatican Vetoes Gluten-Free Communion Wafers," 12 July 2017
The unleavened bread that Roman Catholics use in the celebration of communion must contain some gluten, even if only a trace amount, according to a new Vatican directive.

— the new york times, NOLA.com, "Communion wafers must contain some gluten, Vatican says," 11 July 2017

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

See Words from the same year

communion Synonyms

Synonyms

rapport, fellowship, rapprochement

Related Words

accord, agreement, concord, harmony; oneness, solidarity, togetherness, unity; affinity, empathy, sympathy, understanding; amity, chumminess, companionship, friendliness, friendship; reciprocity, symbiosis

Near Antonyms

alienation, disaffection, disgruntlement, estrangement; coldness, cold shoulder, distance, iciness; animosity, antagonism, antipathy, bitterness, enmity, hostility, jaundice, rancor, spite

COMMUNION Defined for English Language Learners

communion

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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