communal
Definitions
Shared by all members of a community; for common use.
公共的；共用的；社区共有的。
Relating to or involving conflict between different communities, especially ethnic or religious groups.
（尤指族群或宗教）社群之间的；社群冲突的。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedWhy It Means This
Common is the clearest case of a word riding a meaning-ladder all the way down. Its root idea is noble — com- 'together' + mun- 'duty,' i.e. people bound to a shared obligation. But 'shared by everyone' easily becomes 'seen everywhere,' and 'seen everywhere' easily becomes 'nothing special.' So 'common' simultaneously means 'shared' (common ground), 'frequent' (a common cold), and 'ordinary/low' (he's so common). Reading which rung is meant is purely about context.
Usage Guide
- 'shared' sense: common ground, common goal, the common good — positive, about what people hold together.
- 'frequent' sense: a common mistake, the common cold — neutral, just means widespread.
- 'ordinary/low' sense: 'he's so common' is an insult in British English (lacking class). Be careful — this can offend.
- in common: 'have something in common' = share a trait/interest. Note: 'common to X' means 'shared by X' (a problem common to all cities).
Example Sentences
- 1.
The residents share a communal kitchen and laundry room.
- 2.
Decisions are made through communal discussion.
- 3.
The region has a long history of communal tension between the two groups.
Easily Confused
common vs ordinary vs usual — common = found in many places or shared by many (a common surname). ordinary = average, not special (an ordinary day). usual = what normally happens in a given case (her usual seat). A bird can be common (many of them) without being ordinary; your usual coffee isn't necessarily a common one.
Synonym Comparison
- common — widespread or shared by many; the broadest word
- frequent — happening often in time (frequent visits)
- prevalent — common in a particular place or period, often of conditions/diseases
- widespread — spread over a large area or many people
- shared — held jointly, stresses the 'in common' sense not the 'frequent' one