communal values

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   The beliefs and principles that a group of people share and consider important for living together.

   Grammar: Always plural; takes a plural verb, e.g. 'Communal values are changing.'

   Patterns

   • communal values of a group
   • shared communal values
   • respect communal values

   The village has strong communal values, such as helping neighbors in need.

   In many cultures, communal values are passed down from one generation to the next.

   The school tries to teach communal values like honesty and cooperation.

2. 2nounplural

   The moral and social standards that a particular community or society agrees on.

   Grammar: Often used with 'the' when referring to a specific community: 'the communal values of the town'.

   Patterns

   • the communal values of a society
   • traditional communal values
   • undermine communal values

   The novel explores the conflict between individual desires and the communal values of the time.

   Politicians often talk about restoring communal values after a period of rapid change.

   The festival is a celebration of the communal values that hold the neighborhood together.

Common combinations

shared communal values

The two groups found they had shared communal values despite their different languages.

traditional communal values

She grew up in a rural area where traditional communal values were very important.

promote communal values

The new program aims to promote communal values among young people.

communal values of a community

Understanding the communal values of a community helps outsiders avoid misunderstandings.

threaten communal values

Some fear that globalization threatens communal values in small towns.

Synonyms and how they differ

shared values

A more general phrase that can refer to any group, not just a community; often used in business contexts.

social norms

Focuses on expected behavior rather than deep beliefs; norms are rules, while values are principles.

collective principles

A formal term emphasizing the group as a whole; less common in everyday speech than 'communal values'.

Opposites

Word family

communal adjective

Relating to a community; shared by a group.

community noun

A group of people living in the same area or sharing a common interest.

commune noun

A group of people who live together and share possessions and responsibilities.

Commonly confused: communal values or common values?

Practice

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