gemeinschaft: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Yes, but it is a loanword from German. It is fully naturalised in academic English, particularly in sociology, and is found in major English dictionaries, though it remains a low-frequency, specialist term.

While all gemeinschaften are communities, not all communities are gemeinschaften. 'Gemeinschaft' is a more specific, theoretical term implying deep, organic, face-to-face, and often traditional social bonds. A 'community' can be looser and more modern (e.g., 'the online gaming community').

In modern academic writing, it is generally not italicised or capitalised, as it is considered a naturalised term. However, some style guides or authors may choose to italicise it to emphasise its foreign origin.

Yes, the standard English plural is 'gemeinschafts' (e.g., 'analysing different types of gemeinschafts'), though the German plural 'gemeinschaften' is also occasionally seen in highly specialised texts.

A social group characterized by intimate, cooperative, and personal relationships, often bound by tradition, kinship, and a shared sense of community.

Gemeinschaft is usually formal, academic (sociology, anthropology) in register.

Gemeinschaft: in British English it is pronounced /ɡəˈmaɪnʃæft/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡəˈmaɪnʃɑːft/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.