English Reference

Word

community

Phoneticscom·mu·ni·ty, stress on the second syllable

US/kəmˈjunəti/

UK/kəmjˈuːnɪtˌi/

Definitions

01people in an area

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

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

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

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

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

02shared interests

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

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

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

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

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

03online group

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Internet

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

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

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

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

Synonyms

04feeling of togetherness

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun

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

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

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

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

05ecology

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Science Technical · Academic

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

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

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

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

Synonyms

ecosystembiota

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “community” in context.

01. community organisation 02. ethnic community 03. international community 04. particular community 05. scientific community

Etymology

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.

Word family

ADJECTIVE

Related words

Domains

EcologyInternet

This entry

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.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL 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: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
Frequency
Very common
Level
A2 · ElementaryOxford
Updated

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English Reference