community
/kəˈmjuːnəti/ (bre, ipa) · /kəˈmjuːnəti/ (ame, ipa) · /kə-ˈmyü-nə-tē/ (ame, mw)
community — noun
- communitysingular
- communitiesplural
1. people who either live in the same place, such as a town or neighbourhood, or wh
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
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
The Taiwanese community in Los Angeles celebrates Lunar New Year together.
Our farming community lost its only school when families moved to the city.
When the mayor asked the community for ideas, two hundred people attended the meeting.
- 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
- individual
A single person rather than a group bound together
文法句型
the + community
adjective + community
community + of + noun
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
2. plants and animals of different kinds that share a particular environment and in
plants and animals of different kinds that share a particular environment and interact with one another
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.
Scientists studied the plant community on the mountain to understand how species spread.
The pond community depends on clean water for all its living things to survive.
A healthy garden community has insects, birds, worms, and many kinds of plants.
文法句型
adjective + community
用法筆記
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
ordinary people in general, considered in contrast to a government, large organization, or particular profession
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
The organization serves the community by offering free classes to anyone who wants to learn.
The education department's reform sparked debate across the community about the future of public schools.
The community has a right to know about safety risks in their area.
- 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
- government
The ruling body that the general public is often contrasted with
- individual
A single person rather than the collective body
文法句型
the + community
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
4. people who connect with one another on a social media website or app because the
people who connect with one another on a social media website or app because they share a common interest, hobby, or goal
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.
Members of the fitness community on YouTube post workout videos every week.
Leila started a book club community on a forum site for mystery readers.
The community guidelines on the website ask users to be respectful to each other.
- 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
文法句型
adjective + community + on + [platform]
the + [interest] + community
用法筆記
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
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
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
Living in a small dorm creates a feeling of community among the students.
Neighbours meet at the community garden and build a sense of community together.
After the earthquake, the survivors developed a deep sense of community that lasted for years.
- 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
- 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
文法句型
a sense of community
a feeling of community
build community
用法筆記
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.