communal

adjective

com·​mu·​nal kə-ˈmyü-nᵊl 

ˈkäm-yə-nᵊl

1

: of or relating to one or more communes

a communal organization

2

: of or relating to a community

3

a

: characterized by collective ownership and use of property

b

: participated in, shared, or used in common by members of a group or community

a communal kitchen

gathered for a communal meal

4

: of, relating to, or based on racial or cultural groups

communal violence

communalize

kə-ˈmyü-nə-ˌlīz 

ˈkäm-yə-

transitive verb

communally adverb

Synonyms

• collaborative
• collective
• combined
• common
• concerted
• conjoint
• conjunct
• cooperative
• joint
• multiple
• mutual
• pooled
• public
• shared
• united

Examples of communal in a Sentence

The tribe lived in communal huts.

the communal experience of riding on the train

Recent Examples on the Web

Moving into the main dining room, high ceilings, Hollywood-style banquettes, and plush booths encourage relaxed dining with friends, where sharing the famed prime rib French dip becomes a communal experience. —Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

Working in a steel mill is a communal act that lends itself to the pursuit of political power in a way that warehouse jobs do not. —Farah Stockman, The Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2024

Two factors came to cement its status as communal annual ritual for the nation. —Michael Callahan, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024

As sociable creatures, crows often form large communal roosts on winter nights, sometimes gathering in the tens of thousands to sleep on tree branches or power lines. —Ramon Padilla, USA TODAY, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, from Late Latin communalis, from Latin communis

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing communal

• inter-communal

Kids Definition

communal

adjective

com·​mu·​nal kə-ˈmyün-ᵊl 

ˈkäm-yən-ᵊl

1

: of or relating to a commune or community

2

: shared or used in common by members of a group or community