Communal
/kəˈmjuːnəl/
adjectiveIntermediate📊CommonSocial
1 meaning1 question
Definitions
1
Shared, belonging to or used by a group of people.
/kəˈmjuːnəl/
adjectiveneutralIntermediate
Social
Shared by or belonging to a community
They used a communal kitchen.
💡 Simply: Imagine a big group of friends sharing a pizza. That's communal – everyone shares it!
👶 For kids: Shared by everyone in a group.
More Examples
2
It was a communal effort to build the park.
How It's Used
Social Studies
"They lived in a communal dwelling, sharing resources and responsibilities."
Environmental Studies
"The communal garden provided fresh produce for all residents."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
From Latin *communis ('common'). Developed through Old French and Middle English.
The word's usage has shifted over time, increasingly associated with intentional communities and shared resources.
Memory tip
Think 'community' – communal things are shared by the community.
Word Origin
Original meaning
"common"
Base: commune
communal livingcommunal propertycommunal garden
Common misspellings
commuonalcomunalcomonual
Practice
Usage
30%Spoken
70%Written