1a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common:Montreal’s Italian communitythe gay community in Londonthe scientific community
a group of people living together and practising common ownership:a community of nuns
a particular area or place considered together with its inhabitants:a rural communitylocal communities
a body of nations or states unified by common interests: [in names]:the European Community
(the community) the people of a district or country considered collectively, especially in the context of social values and responsibilities; society:preparing prisoners for life back in the community
[as modifier] denoting a worker or resource designed to serve the people of a particular area:community health services
2 [mass noun] the condition of sharing or having certain attitudes and interests in common:the sense of community that organized religion can provide
[in singular] a similarity or identity:the law presupposes a community of interest between an employer and employees
joint ownership or liability:the community of goods
3 Ecology a group of interdependent plants or animals growing or living together in natural conditions or occupying a specified habitat:communities of insectivorous birds
the international community
the countries of the world considered collectively:the policy led to widespread condemnation from the international community
