communal

adjective

com·​mu·​nal kə-ˈmyü-nᵊl How to pronounce communal (audio)
ˈkäm-yə-nᵊl
1
: of or relating to one or more communes
a communal organization
2
: of or relating to a community
3
a
: characterized by collective ownership and use of property
b
: participated in, shared, or used in common by members of a group or community
a communal kitchen
gathered for a communal meal
4
: of, relating to, or based on racial or cultural groups
communal violence
communalize transitive verb
communally adverb

Examples of communal in a Sentence

The tribe lived in communal huts. the communal experience of riding on the train
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Aquarius teaches us about community and friendship by showing us which friends support our individuality while offering the incredible, ineffable experience of losing ourselves in something greater and more communal. Colin Bedell, Them, 16 Jan. 2025 Long, communal tables have been swapped out for two- and four-tops, and a back garden is currently off-limits while being renovated. Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 16 Jan. 2025 Interview Grief and Devotion on the Three-Point Line: An Interview with Hanif Abdurraqib Shereen Lee The author of There’s Always This Year on basketball, what drags him to the page, and the communal act of fasting. Max Ufberg, hazlitt.net, 10 Jan. 2025 The layers of tragedy reach at the personal, communal and cultural levels. Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for communal 

Word History

Etymology

French, from Late Latin communalis, from Latin communis

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of communal was in 1796

Dictionary Entries Near communal

Cite this Entry

“Communal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communal. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

communal

adjective
com·​mu·​nal kə-ˈmyün-ᵊl How to pronounce communal (audio)
ˈkäm-yən-ᵊl
1
: of or relating to a commune or community
2
: shared or used in common by members of a group or community

More from Merriam-Webster on communal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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