definitions

communalism

[ kuh-myoon-l-iz-uh m, kom-yuh-nl- ]
/ kəˈmyun lˌɪz əm, ˈkɒm yə 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.

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Nearby words

commove, comms, communal, communal aerial, communal marriage, communalism, communality, communalize, communally, communard, communautaire

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for communalism

British Dictionary definitions for communalism

communalism

/ (ˈkɒmjʊnəˌlɪzəm) /

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

communalism

n.

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

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper