Commune
noun / verb /ˈkɒm.juːn/ — A group living together and sharing; to share intimate thoughts.
Definition
As a noun: a group of people living together and sharing possessions, work, and often income. As a verb: to share intimate thoughts or feelings with someone, especially in a non-verbal way. Both senses point toward the deep sharing of what is private.
Beyond the definition
To commune with something — a person, a landscape, a piece of music — is to temporarily lose the boundary between yourself and it. Communion is what we most seek and most rarely find.
Origin & history
Latin: 'communis' (common, shared). The same root as 'communication', 'community', and 'communion'. The religious sense — receiving communion — and the political sense — the Paris Commune — share the same origin.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
They had lived in a commune in the seventies — shared everything, argued about everything, loved it more than they admitted.
She walked the hills in the early morning, communing with something she couldn't name.
The Paris Commune of 1871 lasted seventy-two days and produced an idea that has never been fully tried.
How to use it
Follow this entry’s examples for grammatical form and sentence placement.
Choose “Commune” when the meaning fits your context: As a noun: a group of people living together and sharing possessions, work, and often income. As a verb: to share intimate thoughts or feelings with someone, especially in a non-verbal way. Both senses point toward the deep sharing of what is private.
Synonyms
community, collective, kibbutz, co-operative
Antonyms
private ownership, individualism
Related words
Commune vs community
A community is a broad social group sharing space or interests. A commune is a specific, intentional lifestyle choice where members live together and share resources.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Casual Conversation in Cafe
Two adults sit at a wooden table in a busy café, using expressive hand gestures while talking.
The intimate, non-verbal communication and shared presence in the busy café represent the act of communing—sharing intimate thoughts or feelings in a way that goes beyond the literal words being spoken.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Commune" mean?
Commune is noun / verb meaning: A group living together and sharing; to share intimate thoughts.. As a noun: a group of people living together and sharing possessions, work, and often income. As a verb: to share intimate thoughts or feelings with someone, especially in a non-verbal way. Both senses point toward the deep sharing of what is private.
Where does the word "Commune" come from?
Latin: 'communis' (common, shared). The same root as 'communication', 'community', and 'communion'. The religious sense — receiving communion — and the political sense — the Paris Commune — share the same origin.