community

community — noun

1. people who either live in the same place, such as a town or neighbourhood, or wh

1.nounB2
Definition

people who either live in the same place, such as a town or neighbourhood, or who are united by a shared interest, profession, religion, or cultural background

Example

The new park quickly became a meeting place for the whole community.

the whole community

Ravi joined a local cycling community that meets for weekend rides.

local cycling community

Common collocations
  • local community
  • wider community
  • the whole community
  • community center
  • community service
  • community leader
  • community event
Synonyms
  • neighborhood

    Focuses specifically on the residential area where people live near each other; less emphasis on shared interests or identity

  • population

    A statistical or demographic term for the total number of inhabitants; does not imply connection or shared identity among them

  • society

    Broader in scope, referring to the whole organized system of people in a country or region; less personal than community

Antonyms
  • individual

    A single person rather than a group bound together

Grammar Patterns

the + community

adjective + community

community + of + noun

Usage Note

Often includes a modifier that specifies the type of group — for example, the business community (by profession), the Asian community (by ethnicity), or the research community (by interest). When referring to a specific geographic area, the definite article 'the' is almost always used.

Common Mistakes

I moved to a friendly society.
I moved to a friendly community.
'Society' refers to a much larger organized system; 'community' fits a smaller, more personal group based on location or shared identity.

2. plants and animals of different kinds that share a particular environment and in

2.nounB2
Definition

plants and animals of different kinds that share a particular environment and interact with one another

Example

A coral reef community includes fish, algae, and many tiny sea creatures.

coral reef community

The forest community was damaged when wildfire swept through the valley.

Common collocations
  • ecological community
  • forest community
  • plant community
  • animal community
  • coral reef community
Synonyms
  • ecosystem

    Broader term that includes not just the living organisms but also the physical environment they inhabit

  • habitat

    Refers to the place where organisms live, not the group of organisms themselves

Grammar Patterns

adjective + community

Usage Note

Most common in scientific and environmental writing. Typically appears with an adjective identifying the habitat: forest community, coral reef community, wetland community. Not used in everyday conversation about animals or plants.

3. ordinary people in general, considered in contrast to a government, large organi

3.nounB2
Definition

ordinary people in general, considered in contrast to a government, large organization, or particular profession

Example

The new law was designed to protect the health and safety of the community.

protect the community

Dr. Okafor told reporters that the government had failed to consult the wider community before cutting hospital budgets.

failed to consult the wider community

Common collocations
  • the community
  • serve the community
  • protect the community
  • community needs
  • community safety
  • community health
Synonyms
  • public

    Nearly interchangeable with this sense of community, equally common in phrases like 'the public has a right to know'

  • society

    Broader and more abstract; often refers to the whole structure of a nation's social organization

  • population

    More statistical; refers to all the people in an area as a number or demographic group

Antonyms
  • government

    The ruling body that the general public is often contrasted with

  • individual

    A single person rather than the collective body

Grammar Patterns

the + community

Usage Note

Always used with the definite article 'the.' Refers to society at large rather than a specific identifiable group. Common in news reporting, government announcements, and organizational mission statements.

Common Mistakes

The new policy affects community.
The new policy affects the community.
In this sense, 'community' is always preceded by 'the' when it means the general public.

4. people who connect with one another on a social media website or app because the

4.nounB1
Definition

people who connect with one another on a social media website or app because they share a common interest, hobby, or goal

Example

Aiko joined a photography community on Instagram where members share editing tips.

[interest] community on [platform]

The gaming community on Discord organized a charity event for local hospitals.

Common collocations
  • online community
  • gaming community
  • community guidelines
  • community manager
  • join a community
Synonyms
  • group

    More general; can describe any collection of people, not necessarily one with shared identity or interaction online

  • forum

    Refers specifically to a website or section where people post messages for discussion; narrower than community

  • network

    Emphasizes the connections between members rather than the group as a whole

Grammar Patterns

adjective + community + on + [platform]

the + [interest] + community

Usage Note

Typically paired with a modifier naming the interest (gaming community, photography community) and often a platform (on Reddit, on Discord). The phrase 'community guidelines' is a fixed expression found on most social media platforms.

5. the comfortable feeling that comes from sharing experiences, values, or a way of

5.nounB2
Definition

the comfortable feeling that comes from sharing experiences, values, or a way of life with the people around you, so that you feel accepted and connected

Example

Hana missed the sense of community she had in her old town after moving away.

sense of community

The team felt a strong community after working late nights together on the project.

felt a strong community

Common collocations
  • sense of community
  • feeling of community
  • build community
  • create community
  • strong community
Synonyms
  • belonging

    A more specific term for the feeling of being accepted and fitting in; 'sense of belonging' is often used interchangeably with 'sense of community'

  • fellowship

    Suggests warm friendship and shared purpose; slightly more formal and less common in everyday speech

  • togetherness

    Emphasizes the quality of being close and united with others; more informal and emotional

Antonyms
  • isolation

    The state of being alone or separated from others, opposite of the feeling of belonging

  • loneliness

    The sad feeling of being alone or lacking connection with others

Grammar Patterns

a sense of community

a feeling of community

build community

Usage Note

Uncountable abstract noun — cannot be used with 'a' unless part of the fixed phrase 'a sense of community.' Distinguished from Sense 1 by being an emotional quality rather than a concrete group of people. Common in discussions about workplace culture, neighbourhood life, and social connection.

Common Mistakes

I found a great community at my new job.' (intending the abstract feeling).
I found a great sense of community at my new job.
Without 'sense of,' the sentence suggests a concrete group of people (Sense 1), not an abstract feeling of belonging.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Community, society, neighborhood, population, and public all refer to groups of people, but with important differences in scope and emphasis. Community suggests a smaller, more personal group bound by location or shared identity — your local neighbourhood community or the business community. Society is much broader, referring to a large organized group sharing institutions and culture (modern Japanese society). Neighborhood focuses specifically on the residential area where people live near one another (a quiet neighborhood with tree-lined streets, where residents know each other). Population is primarily a statistical term for the total number of inhabitants (the city's population has grown to two million). Public refers to ordinary people as a whole, often contrasted with officials or experts (the public has a right to know about health risks). For example: 'Our community organized a block party' feels warm and local; 'American society values individualism' is broad and systemic.

community ↗society ↗neighborhood ↗population ↗public ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • community center
  • community service
  • community leader
  • community member
  • community event
  • community group
  • community college
  • community development

Phrases

  • community of people
  • community of interest
  • part of the community
  • member of the community

Prepositions

  • in a community
  • within a community
  • across the community
  • throughout the community

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

From Latin 'communitas' (fellowship, community), derived from 'communis' (common, shared), which itself combines 'com-' (together) and 'munis' (ready to serve). Passed into English through Old French 'communité' in the 1300s. The original Latin sense emphasised the idea of sharing duties and resources among people bound together, which still underlies all modern uses.