communion

noun

com·​mu·​nion kə-ˈmyü-nyən 

1

: an act or instance of sharing

2

a

capitalized : a Christian sacrament in which consecrated bread and wine are consumed as memorials of Christ's death or as symbols for the realization of a spiritual union between Christ and communicant or as the body and blood of Christ

b

: the act of receiving Communion

c

capitalized : the part of a Communion service in which the sacrament is received

3

: intimate fellowship or rapport : communication

sat alone on the mountain, in communion with the wilderness

4

: a body of Christians having a common faith and discipline

the Anglican communion

Synonyms

• fellowship
• rapport
• rapprochement

Examples of communion in a Sentence

She went to the front of the church for Communion.

gradually established a feeling of communion with her fellow physicians

Recent Examples on the Web

Families, side by side, in communion with God and each other. —David Oliver, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024

Today, 3,000 maple trees cover the property, which recalls another special Japanese phrase: shinrin-yoku, forest bathing, an act of communion with all things arboreal. —Matt Goulding, Travel + Leisure, 24 Nov. 2024

Learning to play guitar through those tracks was an act of communion, every strum bringing him closer to his father John Lennon, who was killed in December 1980. —Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 21 Nov. 2024

This is the Miami of sos pwa served over rice at the family dinner table, of griot brought to the communion party of a young relative. —Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin communion-, communio mutual participation, from communis — see common entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing communion

• post-communion
• self-communion

Kids Definition

communion

noun

com·​mu·​nion kə-ˈmyü-nyən 

1

capitalized

a

: a Christian sacrament in which bread and wine are partaken of as a commemoration of the last supper of Jesus

b

: the part of the Mass in which the Eucharist is received

2

: friendly communication

3

: a body of Christians having a common faith and discipline