community

noun

com·​mu·​ni·​ty kə-ˈmyü-nə-tē 

plural communities

often attributive

1

: a unified body of individuals: such as

a

: the people with common interests living in a particular area

… there was to be a school party on Saturday night for the entire community.

—Richard Peck

broadly : the area itself

… Linfield, a farming community about seven miles away.

—James McBride

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

That kind of success has a ripple effect in the creative community.

—Vivian Song

d

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

the international community

ethnic communities

The series won acclaim … for its affectionate portrayal of the LGBTQ+ community …

—Lisa Respers France

e

: a group linked by a common policy

f

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

a diverse community of microorganisms

… an impressive plant community of marshes, cattail stands, bulrush beds and mesquite bosques …

—Jake Frederico

g

: a political unit (such as a nation or state) : commonwealth

2

a

: a state or feeling of caring about and wanting to interact with others in a group

The school encourages a sense of community in its students.

This joy and community is what brings people back year after year to our city.

—Meredith Perkins

b

: joint ownership or participation

community of goods

c

: common character : likeness

community of ideas

d

: social activity : fellowship

3

: society at large

the interests of the community

Film is about the community that gathers around that screen in times of great crisis and in moments of immense joy.

—Jessica Gelt

Synonyms of community

• town
• neighborhood
• city
• village
• commune

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

The article went viral, garnering pushback from the LGBT community over how it was covered and more attention to the LGBT bar itself from conservative pundits, who questioned why the bar still had a mask mandate. — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 25 Sep. 2026

An eye will need to focus on ethics and lessons from history, as well as from social and political philosophy regarding protections for individuals, communities, domestic and supranational institutions and humanity at large. — Keith Tidman, Baltimore Sun, 24 Sep. 2026

Because of the family’s involvement in the Hispanic community, Juanito was well-known, says Orta, who met with them last week and made sure there were resource pamphlets available at the young man’s wake. — Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026

Upping Your Home’s Curb Appeal With Minimal Effort Beyond aesthetics, maintaining your exterior can be thought of as a contribution to your community. — Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2026

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

Phrases Containing community

• bedroom community
• business community
• community-acquired
• community antenna television
• community-associated
• community center
• community chest
• community college
• community immunity
• community property
• community service
• community spread
• community-supported agriculture
• community theater
• community transmission
• gated community
• inter-community
• speech community

Rhymes for community

• disunity
• immunity
• impunity
• autoimmunity
• importunity
• opportunity
• munity
• unity

Kids Definition

community

noun

com·​mu·​ni·​ty kə-ˈmyü-nət-ē 

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 

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 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