com;mu;ni;ty pronunciation: function: noun inflected form(s): plural com;mu;ni;tiesusage: often attributive etymology: middle english comunete, from anglo-french communité, from latin communitat-, communitas, from communisdate: 14th century 1 : a unified body of individuals: as a : state, commonwealth b : the people with common interests living in a particular area; broadly : the area itself lt;the problems of a large communitygt; c : an interacting population of various kinds of individuals (as species) in a common location d : a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society lt;a community of retired personsgt; e : a group linked by a common policy f : a body of persons or nations having a common history or common social, economic, and political interests lt;the international communitygt; g : a body of persons of common and especially professional interests scattered through a larger society lt;the academic communitygt; 2 : society at large3 a : joint ownership or participation lt;community of goodsgt; b : common character : likeness lt;community of interestsgt; c : social activity : fellowship d : a social state or condition