community relations: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, professional, academic
Quick answer
What does “community relations” mean?
The relationships and interactions between different groups within a community or between a community and external organisations.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The relationships and interactions between different groups within a community or between a community and external organisations.
The field or practice of managing relationships, often between minority and majority groups, or between residents and institutions (like police, government, or businesses), to promote social cohesion, understanding, and prevent conflict. It implies formal efforts, policies, or officers dedicated to this work.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar. In UK contexts, it is more commonly linked to local government, policing ('Police Community Relations Officer'), and race relations. In US contexts, it is heavily associated with corporate PR ('Corporate Community Relations') and police-community dialogues, especially post-social unrest.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries connotations of official policy, potential tension, and proactive bridge-building. In the US, it may more directly evoke historical and ongoing discussions about police-minority community relations.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to its entrenched use in corporate and institutional structures.
Grammar
How to Use “community relations” in a Sentence
N-N compound (noun-noun)Used with verbs: improve/foster/damage + community relationsUsed as object of preposition: in/for community relationsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “community relations” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The council aims to community-relation with hard-to-reach groups. (Note: 'community-relate' is extremely rare and non-standard; the concept is expressed peripherastically.)
American English
- The corporation is looking to community-relate more effectively. (Same note as above.)
adverb
British English
- The event was organised community-relations-wise very poorly. (Highly informal/awkward)
American English
- They approached the problem community-relations-first. (Informal)
adjective
British English
- She holds a community-relations post at the town hall.
- The community-relations aspect of the policy was neglected.
American English
- He is our community-relations manager.
- We need a better community-relations strategy.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The company's community relations team organised a charity fundraiser to improve its local image.
Academic
The study examined the impact of urban regeneration projects on long-term community relations.
Everyday
The new community centre has really helped community relations in our area.
Technical
The police force implemented a procedural justice model to reform its community relations.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “community relations”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “community relations”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “community relations”
- Using it to describe personal family or friend relationships (incorrect: 'My community relations with my cousins are good.').
- Misspelling as 'comunity relations'.
- Using a singular verb (It is almost always plural: 'Community relations are improving.').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is almost always treated as a plural noun (e.g., 'Community relations are important').
'Public relations' (PR) is broader, managing the public image of any entity. 'Community relations' is a subset of PR focused specifically on relationships with the local geographic community and specific demographic groups within it.
Typically, it's an organisation, institution, or area that has good/poor community relations. A person might be described as 'good for community relations' or as a 'community relations officer'.
Neutral in itself, but often used in contexts where there is or has been a problem needing improvement. It implies a formal, managed process.
The relationships and interactions between different groups within a community or between a community and external organisations.
Community relations is usually formal, professional, academic in register.
Community relations: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈmjuːnɪti rɪˈleɪʃənz/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˈmjunəti rɪˈleɪʃənz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Bridge the gap (with the community)”
- “Mend fences (with the community)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'community' of people and the 'relations' (relationships) between them. It's the official term for how well different groups in an area get along.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNITY RELATIONS ARE A BRIDGE (connecting separate groups). COMMUNITY RELATIONS ARE A FABRIC (that can be torn or mended).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'community relations' LEAST likely to be used?