Communal Definition: Shared by a Group, Examples & Usage

Meaning 1：shared by a group (communal)

communal 🔊

/ˈkɒmjʊnəl/

adj.

Used or shared by a group of people living together in the same area.

Communal kitchen shared by students cooking together

shared by a group 🔊

➕

/ʃɛrd baɪ ə ɡruːp/

adj.

Relating to a group of people sharing something, especially facilities or resources.

📁 Category：Buildings & Places 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'communis' (common) + suffix '-al'. Means 'relating to a community'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'community' – communal is its adjective form, meaning shared by the community.

📖 Example

The students in the dormitory share a communal kitchen where they often cook and eat together. 🔊 The students in the dormitory share a communal kitchen where they often cook and eat together.

🔗 Collocations

communal living – Sharing living space and resources with a group

communal space – An area used jointly by a group of people

communal area – A shared zone for common activities

🔄 Synonyms

shared (adj.) – Used, owned, or experienced jointly by two or more people

collective (adj.) – Done or shared by all members of a group

common (adj.) – Belonging or relating to the community as a whole

🚫 Antonyms

private (adj.) – Belonging to or for the use of a particular person or group only

personal (adj.) – Concerning or affecting a particular person rather than a group

individual (adj.) – Relating to a single person or thing, not a group

🌱 Derivatives

community (n.) – A group of people living in the same place or having a shared characteristic

communally (adv.) – In a way that involves sharing among a group

commune (n.) – A group of people living together and sharing possessions and responsibilities

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'communis' (common, public), from 'com-' (together) + 'munis' (serving). Used since the 15th century for things shared by a community.