communal

Everyday

1. Shared by all the people in a group or building (a communal kitchen, communal garden). tree →
2. Done by or involving a group of people together (communal singing, a communal meal). tree →
3. To do with different communities, sometimes groups who disagree (communal violence). tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life flats may have a communal garden or laundry; school trips may have communal showers and dormitories. In church life a communal meal brings people together. In history and news, «communal» can describe tensions between communities. It tells the reader something is shared or done together.

Examples

• Our block of flats has a communal garden. tree →
• At camp we ate in a communal dining hall. tree →
• The communal fridge at work is always full. tree →
• The village had a communal well in the past. tree →
• Communal singing filled the church at Christmas. tree →
• Please keep the communal areas tidy. tree →

Note

Adjective only. Say «KOM-yoo-nul» (UK) or «kuh-MYOO-nul» (US). Comes from «common» and «community». It does not mean «communist».