Communality

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌkɒmjʊˈnalɪti/

Definitions

1. The condition of belonging to a group through shared interests or experiences is key for societal unity
2. A characteristic illustrating the collective aspects or values among individuals is integral to fostering community spirit
3. The state of being connected to others through common ties or identities ; the attribute of something belonging to or used by a community as a whole

Etymology: Communality is a case of a word being built in layers. Its base is "communal," which English borrowed from French "communal," itself drawn from Late Latin "commūnālis," a derivative of Latin "commūnis" meaning "common" or "shared." The "-ity" ending, which passed through Old French and Middle English as "-ite" before settling into its modern form, turns the adjective into a noun for the quality or state of being shared. The word's own ancestry is older than it looks. The Latin "commūnis" traces back to roots meaning "together" and "duty" or "obligation," so the idea of sharing was tied from the start to mutual responsibility. English had an earlier relative, "commonalty," meaning the common people or the community as a whole, and "communality" grew up alongside it in the same sense of collective belonging.

Synonyms: community, togetherness, sharedness, solidarity, collectivity

Antonyms: individuality, separation, isolation, independence, solitude