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
communally
adverb
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
Her parents ran a local theater production company, introducing her to performance as a communal act.
—
Clayton Davis, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
The cemetery was a communal space, yet each fence demarcated a private domain—my nature, my virtues, my gait, my mood.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
There are also roaring fireplaces in the communal areas (usually presided over by a moose or elk bust), oodles of wood and leather furniture, pieces of Indigenous art throughout, and floor-to-ceiling windows facing the mountains.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
The restaurant serves a multicourse progressive tasting menu that pays homage to chef Ian Boden's family’s roots, locally-sourcing items from the region, and offers a communal kitchen table option.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for communal
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Clayton Davis, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
The cemetery was a communal space, yet each fence demarcated a private domain—my nature, my virtues, my gait, my mood.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
There are also roaring fireplaces in the communal areas (usually presided over by a moose or elk bust), oodles of wood and leather furniture, pieces of Indigenous art throughout, and floor-to-ceiling windows facing the mountains.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
The restaurant serves a multicourse progressive tasting menu that pays homage to chef Ian Boden's family’s roots, locally-sourcing items from the region, and offers a communal kitchen table option.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for communal
Cite this Entry
“Communal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communal. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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