# communal

/kəmˈjunəɫ/ (US) · /kəmjˈuːnəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/communal
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. shared by a group

adjective · CEFR B2

shared by all members of a group or community for their common use.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. relating to a community

adjective · CEFR B2

relating to the people who live in a particular area or belong to a specific group.

For teachers: relating to or belonging to a community or commune.

- 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.

### 3. religious or ethnic groups

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

relating to different religious or ethnic groups within a society, especially when there is conflict between them.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The students share a communal kitchen on the first floor.
- Living in a co-housing project means sharing communal spaces like gardens and laundry rooms with your neighbors.
- The indigenous group maintains a communal land-ownership system, ensuring that every family has access to fertile soil for subsistence farming regardless of their individual wealth.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.