English Reference
noun

community

n.
US /kəmˈjunəti/ UK /kəmjˈuːnɪtˌi/ com·mu·ni·ty UK spelling communities, community's

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    the people who live in the same town, city, or neighbourhood.

    a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality and often share a common cultural and historical heritage.

    Simple

    The local community came together to clean up the park after the storm.

    In context

    The proposed development met with significant resistance from the local community, who feared it would destroy the historical character of the village.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    a group of people who share the same interests, jobs, or religions.

    a group of people sharing common characteristics, interests, or goals, regardless of their physical location.

    Simple

    She felt a strong sense of belonging within the scientific community.

    In context

    The international medical community reacted swiftly to the outbreak, sharing data across borders to accelerate the development of a vaccine.

  3. 03 B1 Intermediate Internet

    a group of people who talk and share things on the internet.

    a virtual collective of individuals who interact via digital platforms for social, professional, or educational purposes.

    Simple

    He joined an online community for people who enjoy vintage photography.

    In context

    Moderators play a crucial role in maintaining the health of an online community by enforcing rules and encouraging constructive dialogue.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the feeling of being part of a group and sharing things with others.

    the condition of having certain attitudes, interests, or goals in common; a sense of fellowship or joint ownership.

    Simple

    The small school worked hard to build a sense of community among the students.

    In context

    The project failed not for lack of funding, but because it failed to foster a genuine sense of community among the participants.

  5. 05 C1 Advanced TechnicalAcademic Science

    a group of different plants and animals living together in one place.

    an assemblage of populations of different species interacting within a specific geographic area.

    Simple

    Pollution can damage the delicate community of plants and fish in the river.

    In context

    Ecologists observed how the introduction of a predator species disrupted the entire forest community, leading to a decline in several native bird populations.

    ecosystembiota

Usage community use · community engagement · communities affected


From Late Middle English communite, borrowed from Old French communité, comunité, comunete (modern French communauté), from Classical Latin commūnitās (“community; public spirit”), from commūn(is) (“common, ordinary; of or for the community, public”) + -itās. By surface analysis, commun(e) + -ity. Doublet of communitas.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin commūnitās
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Very common
Updated