communion

noun

com·​mu·​nion kə-ˈmyü-nyən 

1

: an act or instance of sharing

2

a

Communion : 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

Communion : 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 of communion

• 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

Calder’s alternately delicate and massive sculptures are in communion with much larger forces around us. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 30 Oct. 2026

For many families, mariachi is the soundtrack to life’s milestones, from baby showers and communions to weddings and funerals. — Zoey Goto, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2026

Before his martyrdom, Hippolytus abandoned his schismatic stance and claim to the papacy, and was restored to communion with the Church by Pope Pontian. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

People describe it as a communion with spirits and noncorporeal entities via chatbot—a kind of scrying, a staring into a digital mirror that stares back, likened by turns to channeling, séance, revelation. — Sam Kestenbaum, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026

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