community

noun

com·​mu·​ni·​ty kə-ˈmyü-nə-tē How to pronounce community (audio)
plural communities
often attributive
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
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

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 on the Web Sharing and learning about Asian cultures and heritage helps build inclusivity and fosters empathy, community, and understanding for many generations to come. Akruti Babaria, Parents, 5 Mar. 2024 Eastern Time on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 The Emerging Growth Conference is a live, interactive online event that gives existing shareholders and the investment community the opportunity to interact with company representatives in real time. Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2024 Its members are subject to the same Israeli restrictions as their fellow Palestinians, while also being viewed by many in their communities as Israel’s repressive subcontractors. Loveday Morris, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2024 In his budget proposal released in January, Gov. Gavin Newsom largely spared schools, keeping intact popular initiatives like transitional kindergarten, universal school meals, community schools and after-school programs. Calmatters, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 Clips of Jason interacting with Eagles fans from various rallies and community involvement initiatives over the years can be seen in the video, which runs almost 7 minutes long. Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 To continue to support hospitality workers and community members in need, a tenet of the Top 10 program, Free Press staffers swiftly assembled the Top 10 Cares program, raising nearly $500,000 for struggling restaurants working to feed frontline healthcare workers. Detroit Free Press, 5 Mar. 2024 Besides environmental activists and Indigenous communities, Coconino County supervisors are also going on record to oppose risks associated with uranium mining. Trilce Estrada Olvera, The Arizona Republic, 5 Mar. 2024 Ricki Wilde, the odd duckling of a prosperous Black Atlanta family, goes north to open a florist in Harlem and meets the love of her life — an enigmatic musician who came of age in the 1920s — in a community garden. Carole V. Bell, NPR, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'community.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of community was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near community

Cite this Entry

“Community.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/community. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

community

noun
com·​mu·​ni·​ty kə-ˈmyü-nət-ē How to pronounce community (audio)
plural communities
1
a
: the people living in an area
also : the area itself
b
: a group of living things that belong to one or more species, interact ecologically, and are located in one place (as a bog or pond)
c
: a group of people with common interests especially when living together
a community of monks
2
a
: shared ownership or participation
community of goods
b
: similarity sense 1, likeness
a community of ideas
c
: shared activity : fellowship

Medical Definition

community

noun
com·​mu·​ni·​ty kə-ˈmyü-nət-ē How to pronounce community (audio)
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

Legal Definition

community

noun
com·​mu·​ni·​ty
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 communityLouisiana 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

More from Merriam-Webster on community

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