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

The shoes in question are white ballet flats, which any little girl could easily pair with a communion dress. —Arancha Gamo, Glamour, 5 Jan. 2025

As the lotus-eaters writhe and spin, I am routinely spritzed with centrifugal drops of their ample perspiration, a kind of patchouli-scented mist that doesn’t exactly conduce to ecstatic soul communion. —Barrett Swanson, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025

Cage noted the principle could easily be applied to any city as a means for finding means of cooperation, communion, commonality, construction and confluence. —Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024

Still, Southern Baptists and others tend to micro-manage who is allowed take communion. —Gwen Faulkenberry, arkansasonline.com, 5 Dec. 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