European Community

American  

noun

1. an association of W European countries that includes the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), the European Economic Community, the European Parliament, and allied organizations. EC

2. European Economic Community.

---

European Community British  

noun

1.  EC.  an economic and political association of European States that came into being in 1967, when the legislative and executive bodies of the European Economic Community merged with those of the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community: subsumed into the European Union in 1993

---

Example Sentences

Through the 1970s and ’80s Mr. Dobbins held a number of diplomatic positions of increasing importance, including ambassador to the European Community, the forerunner of the European Union.

From New York Times • Jul. 8, 2023

It is thought this change is so the project does not sound too much like the European Community, an early name of the EU.

From BBC • Sep. 29, 2022

He extracted concessions from Japan regarding American semiconductors, from South Korea in letting American insurance companies compete for business, and the European Community on U.S. agricultural products.

From Washington Post • Nov. 24, 2021

In 1975, and like a large majority of Britons, Fagg voted “Yes” in a referendum that asked whether Britain should stay in the European Community, the EU’s predecessor.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 31, 2020

The European Community had already begun to scale back sanctions.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela