communitas: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Academic / Technical
Quick answer
What does “communitas” mean?
A deep sense of shared community, fellowship, and social equality, especially that which emerges among people during a shared ritual, journey, or liminal experience.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A deep sense of shared community, fellowship, and social equality, especially that which emerges among people during a shared ritual, journey, or liminal experience.
In anthropology and sociology, a strong feeling of togetherness, belonging, and collective spirit that temporarily suspends social hierarchies and fosters a sense of unity and mutual understanding among participants.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage or spelling. The term is used identically in both academic traditions.
Connotations
Carries strong connotations of social theory (Victor Turner) and the analysis of ritual and pilgrimage.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general language. Usage is confined almost entirely to academic texts and discussions within relevant humanities and social science disciplines.
Grammar
How to Use “communitas” in a Sentence
communitas (among/between + GROUP)communitas (of + GROUP)experience + communitasVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “communitas” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The pilgrimage aimed to communitas the diverse group of travellers. (Note: 'communitas' as a verb is a rare and contentious neologism, not standard.)
American English
- The festival is designed to communitas its participants. (See note above.)
adverb
British English
- They interacted more communitas after the shared ordeal. (Highly non-standard; not recommended.)
American English
- The team worked communitas to overcome the challenge. (Highly non-standard; not recommended.)
adjective
British English
- They described the communitas experience as transformative. (Adjectival use modifying 'experience' is acceptable.)
American English
- The anthropologist studied the communitas moments of the ritual. (See note above.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Core term in anthropology/sociology for describing intense, egalitarian group bonding during rituals or rites of passage.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Key theoretical concept in the works of Victor Turner and ritual studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “communitas”
Strong
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “communitas”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “communitas”
- Using it as a fancy synonym for any type of 'community'.
- Pronouncing it /ˌkɒmjʊˈnaɪtəs/ (like 'community' with a different suffix).
- Using it outside of academic or highly specific descriptive contexts where its theoretical meaning is understood.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While related, 'community' is a general term for a group of people living in the same area or sharing characteristics. 'Communitas' is a specific, intense, and often temporary feeling of unity and equality that arises within a group during shared experiences like rituals or crises.
The term was popularised by the British cultural anthropologist Victor Turner (1920-1983), who used it to describe the anti-structural, egalitarian, and deeply connective social bond that forms during liminal periods of ritual.
It is highly unusual and would likely confuse listeners unless they have a background in social sciences. It is a technical, academic term.
In Turner's framework, the opposite is 'structure' or 'societas' – the normal, hierarchical, and differentiated social order from which communitas provides a temporary release.
A deep sense of shared community, fellowship, and social equality, especially that which emerges among people during a shared ritual, journey, or liminal experience.
Communitas is usually academic / technical in register.
Communitas: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈmjuːnɪtæs/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˈmjunɪtæs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'COMMUNity' + 'TASk' shared together = a deep sense of COMMUNITAS.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNITY IS A BOND FORMED IN THE IN-BETWEEN SPACE. (Reflecting its liminal nature.)
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'communitas' primarily used?