community

noun, often attributive com·mu·ni·ty \ kə-ˈmyü-nə-tē \

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

Definition of community

plural communities

1 : a unified body of individuals: such as

a : the people with common interests living in a particular area; broadly : the area itself

the problems of a large community

b : a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society

a community of retired persons

a monastic community

c : a body of persons of common and especially professional interests scattered through a larger society

the academic community

the scientific community

d : a body of persons or nations having a common history or common social, economic, and political interests

the international community

e : a group linked by a common policy

f : an interacting population of various kinds of individuals (such as species) in a common location

g : state, commonwealth

2 a : a social state or condition

The school encourages a sense of community in its students.

b : joint ownership or participation

community of goods

c : common character : likeness

community of interests

d : social activity : fellowship

3 : society at large

the interests of the community

See community defined for English-language learners

See community defined for kids

Examples of community in a Sentence

a respectable member of the community
The festival was a great way for the local community to get together.
Many communities are facing budget problems.
People in the community wanted better police protection.

Recent Examples of community from the Web

The response from the community of treatment advocates and health professionals to the White House actions so far has been mixed.

— dan merica, CNN, "Trump administration worries opioid crisis could 'get worse'," 14 Apr. 2018
Meanwhile, Telegram's trustworthiness is controversial in the security community.

— wired staff, WIRED, "Security News This Week: Russia Bans Encrypted Chat App Telegram," 14 Apr. 2018
The opposition is coming from a community of Catholics.

— gretchen ehlke, Fox News, "Marquette stands behind 'Pride Prom' organizers," 13 Apr. 2018
The founders believe employers miss out on talent from minority communities and from non-traditional backgrounds because of unconscious bias.

— andy rosen, BostonGlobe.com, "Boston startup thinks it can take a bite out of bias in hiring," 13 Apr. 2018
Because there isn’t currently a federal law in place to prevent institutions from practicing conversion therapy, many people in the LGBTQ community are still forced to undergo traumatic procedures.

— elly belle, Teen Vogue, "Maine Took a Step to Ban Conversion Therapy," 13 Apr. 2018
Three iconic women from the running community look at the U.S. women's 33-year Boston Marathon drought.

— OregonLive.com, "Remembering Jon Hendershott; the latest on Mt. SAC's stadium; Oregon track & field rundown," 12 Apr. 2018
The suspect is said to have fled on foot and officers from neighboring communities are assisting in the search, according to Channel 7.

— brandon patterson, Detroit Free Press, "Man stabbed at Utica townhouse behind Dave and Busters," 12 Apr. 2018
Guests have ranged from storytellers from Chicago's live-lit and comedy community to Eliza Reid, the former first lady of Iceland.

— tori szekeres, Chicago Reader, "Arts / Gender Issues / Media The XX Will Travel podcast encourages women to travel fearlessly," 11 Apr. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of community

Middle English comunete, from Anglo-French communité, from Latin communitat-, communitas, from communis — see ¹common

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

community Synonyms

Other Sociology Terms

bourgeois, ethos, eugenics, exurb, incommunicado, intelligentsia, megalopolis, metrosexual, mores, subculture

COMMUNITY Defined for English Language Learners

community

noun

Definition of community for English Language Learners

: a group of people who live in the same area (such as a city, town, or neighborhood)
: a group of people who have the same interests, religion, race, etc.
: a group of nations

COMMUNITY Defined for Kids

community

noun com·mu·ni·ty \ kə-ˈmyü-nə-tē \

Definition of community for Students

plural communities

1 : the people living in a certain place (as a village or city) : the area itself

2 : a natural group (as of kinds of plants and animals) living together and depending on one another for various necessities of life (as food or shelter)

3 : a group of people with common interests

the business community

a community of artists

4 : a feeling of caring about others in a group

The school fosters a sense of community.

Medical Dictionary

community

noun com·mu·ni·ty \ kə-ˈmyü-nət-ē \

medical Definition of community

plural communities

: a unified body of individuals: as

a : the people with common interests living in a particular area; broadly : the area itself

the problems of a large community

b : an interacting population of various kinds of individuals (as species) in a common location

c : a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society

a community of retired persons

Law Dictionary

community

noun com·mu·ni·ty

legal Definition of community

plural communities

1 : the people who live in a particular place or region and usually are linked by some common interests

2 a : the mass of community property owned by a husband and wife

a spouse may not…lease to a third person his undivided interest in the community or in particular things of the community
—Louisiana Civil Code

b : the entity created upon the marriage of a husband and wife for the purposes of ownership of property in community property states — see also community property at property, regime