communalism

[kuh-myoon-l-iz-uh m, kom-yuh-nl-]

noun

a theory or system of government according to which each commune is virtually an independent state and the nation is merely a federation of such states.
the principles or practices of communal ownership.
strong allegiance to one's own ethnic group rather than to society as a whole.

Origin of communalism

First recorded in 1870–75; communal + -ism

Related formscom·mu·nal·ist, nouncom·mu·nal·is·tic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for communalism

Historical Examples of communalism

Ought we to minimise the communalism of the medival village?
The Agrarian Problem in the Sixteenth Century
Richard Henry Tawney
Its communalism is guaranteed by, because it rests on, its individualism.
Evolution Of The Japanese, Social And Psychic
Sidney L. Gulick
A small ragged urchin asked him the time, and that casual touch of communalism made him feel more at home.
King John of Jingalo
Laurence Housman
It is an interesting fact that communalism has been confined to animals of comparatively low organization.
Man And His Ancestor
Charles Morris
In the Orient the principle of communalism gained such headway as effectually to prevent the introduction of this new principle.
Evolution Of The Japanese, Social And Psychic
Sidney L. Gulick

British Dictionary definitions for communalism

communalism

noun

a system or theory of government in which the state is seen as a loose federation of self-governing communities
an electoral system in which ethnic groups vote separately for their own representatives
loyalty to the interests of one's own ethnic group rather than to society as a whole
the practice or advocacy of communal living or ownership

Derived Formscommunalist, nouncommunalistic, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for communalism

1871 (in reference to Paris), from communal + -ism.