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communal

adj.
US //kəmˈjunəɫ// UK //kəmjˈuːnəl// com·mu·nal
  1. 1 shared by a group (adj.)
    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.

    Example

    The students share a communal kitchen at the end of the hallway.

    Example

    The apartment complex features a communal garden where residents gather for social events and weekend barbecues.

    Usage

    Usually placed before the noun it describes.
  2. 2 relating to a community (adj.)
    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.

    Example

    The town held a communal meeting to discuss the new park.

    Example

    The project aims to strengthen communal ties by encouraging local businesses to collaborate on youth employment initiatives.
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  1. 3 religious or ethnic groups (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    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.

    Example

    The government worked hard to prevent communal violence after the election.

    Example

    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 tip

    This sense is particularly common in South Asian English to describe religious politics or conflict.
Origin

Borrowed from French communal, from Late Latin commūnālis, from Latin commūnis. Doublet of cominal.

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