community

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

Updated on: 15 May 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

Three honorary degrees also were awarded, highlighting a broad and varied range of service to the community.

— kenneth r. gosselin, courant.com, "Hundreds Graduate From University of St. Joseph," 13 May 2018
Ironically, though, her own mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, was an activist herself and known as a leader in her community.

— aimeé lutkin, Glamour, "Mother's Day Actually Has a Deep History of Activism," 12 May 2018
FC Cincinnati isn't tearing down any houses, and quality-of-life issues such as traffic congestion and stadium noise will be addressed in the community benefits agreement.

— jason williams, Cincinnati.com, "PX column: Pay no attention to anti-stadium noise. FC Cincinnati is moving forward," 12 May 2018
Uptgraft hopes the play will cut through the isolation those who married into the military sometimes feel, connecting them with each other and with the larger community.

— tegan hanlon, Anchorage Daily News, "With her husband deployed in Afghanistan, this woman is opening a play in Anchorage to give voice to military spouses," 11 May 2018
Boyles said the scenario gave credence to a message the Fire Department often shares with the community: The public should learn the basics of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

— hannah fry, latimes.com, "Off-duty Newport Beach paramedic helps save man at neighbor’s home," 11 May 2018
Our mission is to close the gender achievement gap in business by providing women with a community to lean on and learn from.

— ellevate, chicagotribune.com, "5 easy things you can do to be a better manager," 11 May 2018
Grow with Google staffers met earlier with community and civic leaders in Cleveland who are working to increase access to digital skills.

— julie washington, cleveland.com, "Google gives $100K grant to Olivet Institutional Baptist Church tech training program," 11 May 2018
City Manager Aaron Desentz said the community is planning for disruption of up to 120 days.

— phoebe wall howard, Detroit Free Press, "Ford hopes to restart F-150 lines next week; supplier describes heavy damage," 11 May 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