Word
communal
Phoneticscom·mu·nal, stress on the second syllable
US/kəmˈjunəɫ/
UK/kəmjˈuːnəl/
Definitions
01shared by a group
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. shared by all members of a group or community for their common use.
adj. shared by a group or community; used by multiple people rather than being private or individual.
“The students share a communal kitchen at the end of the hallway.”
“The apartment complex features a communal garden where residents gather for social events and weekend barbecues.”
Usage
Usually placed before the noun it describes.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02relating to a community
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. relating to the people who live in a particular area or belong to a specific group.
adj. relating to or belonging to a community or commune.
Español:comunitario
“The town held a communal meeting to discuss the new park.”
“The project aims to strengthen communal ties by encouraging local businesses to collaborate on youth employment initiatives.”
03religious or ethnic groups
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. relating to different religious or ethnic groups within a society, especially when there is conflict between them.
adj. relating to or involving different religious or ethnic communities, frequently used in the context of social divisions or conflict.
“The government worked hard to prevent communal violence after the election.”
“The region has a long history of communal harmony, though recent political shifts have tested the relationship between the two major religious groups.”
Teaching tip
This sense is particularly common in South Asian English to describe religious politics or conflict.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Cave drawings displaying communal dancing, often around a fire, are found across centuries and continents.” “So, too, the communal space: the museum, the gallery, the theatre, the silent shared knowing of the library … among strangers.” Etymology
Borrowed from French communal, from Late Latin commūnālis, from Latin commūnis. Doublet of cominal.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/communal
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0