communal
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
shared by all members of a group or community for their common use.
shared by a group or community; used by multiple people rather than being private or individual.
Simple“The students share a communal kitchen at the end of the hallway.”
In context“The apartment complex features a communal garden where residents gather for social events and weekend barbecues.”
UsageUsually placed before the noun it describes.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
relating to the people who live in a particular area or belong to a specific group.
relating to or belonging to a community or commune.
Simple“The town held a communal meeting to discuss the new park.”
In context“The project aims to strengthen communal ties by encouraging local businesses to collaborate on youth employment initiatives.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
relating to different religious or ethnic groups within a society, especially when there is conflict between them.
relating to or involving different religious or ethnic communities, frequently used in the context of social divisions or conflict.
Simple“The government worked hard to prevent communal violence after the election.”
In context“The region has a long history of communal harmony, though recent political shifts have tested the relationship between the two major religious groups.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is particularly common in South Asian English to describe religious politics or conflict.
“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.”
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.