communal

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French communal, from Late Latin commūnālis, from Latin commūnis. Doublet of cominal.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /kəˈmjuː.nəl/, /ˈkɒm.jə.nəl/
  • (US, Canada) IPA(key): /kəˈmju.nəl/
    • Audio (Canada):(file)
  • (General Australian) IPA(key): /kəˈmjʉː.nəl/, /ˈkɔm.jə.nəl/

Adjective

communal (comparative more communal, superlative most communal)

  1. Pertaining to a community or a commune.
  2. Shared by a community; public.
  3. (India) Defined by religious ideas; based on religion.
    Antonym: secular
    communal violence
    communal politics

Derived terms

Translations

French

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Late Latin commūnālis, from Latin commūnis (whence commun). By surface analysis, commune +‎ -al.

Pronunciation

Adjective

communal (feminine communale, masculine plural communaux, feminine plural communales)

  1. (relational, administration) commune
    Synonym: (historical) banal

Further reading