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

Celebrate this Passover on Saturday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Rancho Santa Fe communal Seder. —Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025

Smith, who works in an office with a communal microwave, felt compelled to speak up after a series of increasingly hazardous cooking episodes by a colleague named Greg, 32. —Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025

Here are some highlights from the discussion: Co-founder Perry Farrell’s original vision included a bizarre communal food experience. —Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 30 Mar. 2025

One explanation for preferring the theater experience could be that human beings naturally like to share emotional, high-octane communal experiences. —Gus Alexiou, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for communal

• jejunal
• lagoonal
• monsoonal
• tribunal
• intercommunal

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