community center: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to Formal
Quick answer
What does “community center” mean?
A building or facility, often publicly funded or non-profit, that provides services and hosts activities for the residents of a particular local area or neighbourhood.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A building or facility, often publicly funded or non-profit, that provides services and hosts activities for the residents of a particular local area or neighbourhood.
Can refer to any central hub serving a defined community, not necessarily a physical building (e.g., an online community centre). Also used figuratively for a person or group acting as a focal point for communal activity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: UK uses 'centre', US uses 'center'. Conceptually identical, though in the US the term may sometimes overlap with 'recreation center' or 'neighborhood house'.
Connotations
In the UK, it strongly connotes local government provision (often council-run). In the US, it can be run by municipal parks departments, non-profits, or religious organisations.
Frequency
High frequency in both dialects. The phrase is standard in official and administrative contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “community center” in a Sentence
The community centre [VERB: hosts, provides, offers] [SERVICES].There is a [ADJECTIVE: new, local, vibrant] community centre in [LOCATION].We met [at/inside/near] the community centre.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “community center” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The council aims to community-centre its services for better outreach. (rare, derived)
adjective
British English
- She took a community-centre pottery class. (compound adjective)
American English
- They have a community-center vibe. (compound adjective)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) contexts, e.g., 'The company donated funds to build a new community centre.'
Academic
Used in sociology, urban planning, and social policy studies discussing social infrastructure and public spaces.
Everyday
Common when discussing local events, classes, voting locations, or public meetings.
Technical
Used in municipal planning, architecture, and social work documents to denote a specific type of public amenity building.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “community center”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “community center”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “community center”
- Incorrect article: 'I go to community centre.' (Correct: 'I go to the community centre.')
- Spelling confusion between UK/US variants in inappropriate contexts.
- Using plural incorrectly as a noun modifier: 'communities centre' (always 'community centre').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is always written as two separate words: 'community centre/center'.
A leisure centre (UK) or recreation center (US) focuses primarily on sports and fitness facilities (pools, gyms). A community centre has a broader social, educational, and civic remit, though there can be overlap.
Modern libraries often function as de facto community centres, but traditionally a 'community centre' implies a wider range of non-book-related activities and community group use. The terms are not fully synonymous.
Use 'centre' for UK, Australian, and Canadian English. Use 'center' for US English. The first word 'community' is always spelled the same.
A building or facility, often publicly funded or non-profit, that provides services and hosts activities for the residents of a particular local area or neighbourhood.
Community center is usually neutral to formal in register.
Community center: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈmjuːnəti ˈsɛntə/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˈmjunəti ˈsɛn(t)ər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's like Grand Central Station/the town hall in here. (figurative for a busy hub)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the centre of a community's spider web – all local connections and activities meet there.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNITY IS A BODY, THE CENTRE IS THE HEART. (e.g., 'The community centre is the heart of the neighbourhood.')
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely function of a traditional community centre?