community

noun

com·mu·ni·ty kə-ˈmyü-nə-tē

plural communities

often attributive

Synonyms of community next

: a unified body of individuals: such as

: the people with common interests living in a particular area

broadly : the area itself

the problems of a large community

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

a community of retired persons

a monastic community

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

the academic community

the scientific community

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

the international community

: a group linked by a common policy

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

: state, commonwealth

: a social state or condition

The school encourages a sense of community in its students.

: joint ownership or participation

community of goods

: common character : likeness

community of interests

: social activity : fellowship

: society at large

the interests of the community

Example Sentences

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 Because most of those who are incarcerated are eventually released, Aventiv CEO Dave Abel said, communities benefit when people leaving jail are employable. —

Arcelia Martin, Dallas News, 18 May 2023 The project’s aim is to close this gap and ensure that every community in America has access to cutting-edge cancer diagnostics, therapeutics, and clinical trials. —

Rozalynn S. Frazier, Men's Health, 18 May 2023 Many states have created suicide-prevention programs and efforts to connect students and families to community social services. —

Maggie Jones, New York Times, 17 May 2023 Gulfport also has an extensive community of golfers making the homes on golf courses very popular as well. —

Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2023 The user, who shared this exchange on the subreddit r/replika — the largest online community for the app’s enthusiasts at 70,000 strong — blamed the chatbot’s brief confusion on a recent software tweak. —

Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 17 May 2023 In addition, some communities underserved by existing broadband providers have rolled out their own services—known as municipal broadband—with great success (see more on that below). —

Ben Gottesman, PCMAG, 17 May 2023 Access to child care is especially acute in rural areas, where even before COVID-19, 3 in 5 rural communities were categorized as child care deserts. —

Florence Becot, The Conversation, 17 May 2023 Many have also called for adaptation measures to prepare for the climate impacts that are already baked in, such as vast coastal walls to protect communities from sea level rise. —

Laura Paddison, CNN, 17 May 2023 See More

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

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Community.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/community. Accessed 30 May. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

community

noun

com·mu·ni·ty kə-ˈmyü-nət-ē

plural communities

: the people living in an area

also : the area itself

: 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)

: a group of people with common interests especially when living together

a community of monks

: shared ownership or participation

community of goods

: similarity sense 1, likeness

a community of ideas

: shared activity : fellowship

Medical Definition

community

noun

com·mu·ni·ty kə-ˈmyü-nət-ē

plural communities

: a unified body of individuals: as

: the people with common interests living in a particular area

broadly : the area itself

the problems of a large community

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

: 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

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

: 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

: 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