Native English Speakers only, community = place?

Question

According to dictionaries, "community" means "all the people who live in a particular area, country", i.e. "community" refers to people rather than a place. So why do some people say "make our community a better place"? Thank you very much in advance.

Answer 1

You need a better dictionary. The word 'community' has more than a single nuance to it's meaning.

com·mu·ni·ty

kəˈmyo͞onədē/

noun

noun: community; plural noun: communities



1.

a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.

"Rhode Island's Japanese community"

synonyms: group, body, set, circle, clique, faction; More

informalgang, bunch

"concerns in the immigrant community"

a group of people living together in one place, especially one practicing common ownership.

"a community of nuns"

synonyms: brotherhood, sisterhood, fraternity, sorority, sodality; More

order, congregation, abbey, convent

"a monastic community"

a particular area or place considered together with its inhabitants.

"a rural community"

synonyms: district, region, zone, area, locality, locale, neighborhood; More

informalneck of the woods, hood

"a suburban community"

a body of nations or states unified by common interests.

"the European Community"

the people of a district or country considered collectively, especially in the context of social values and responsibilities; society.

noun: the community

"preparing prisoners for life back in the community"

synonyms: public, general public, populace, people, citizenry, population, collective; More

residents, inhabitants, citizens

"work done for the community"

denoting a worker or resource designed to serve the people of a particular area.

modifier noun: community

"community health services"

2.

a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.

"the sense of community that organized religion can provide"

a similarity or identity.

"writers who shared a community of interests"

joint ownership or liability.

"a commitment to the community of goods"

3.

Ecology

a group of interdependent organisms of different species growing or living together in a specified habitat.

"communities of insectivorous birds"



Origin

late Middle English: from Old French comunete, reinforced by its source, Latin communitas, from communis (see common).

Answer 2

Your example fits the dictionary definition exactly.



"Make our community a better place" means to improve the condition of a particular area that group of people live. That could be a town, county, city, or even state. It can also refer to the country itself, meaning community in general.



The world community can be used little differently as well. It is possible that people can form different communities in the same area. People often form communities based on their ethnic background. Jewish community, black community, Hispanic community, etc, etc, etc. They all live in the same area, but they see their group has community of its own. So it's not always "ALL" people in the area.



You could also define a community based on common interest. Community of baseball enthusiasts. They don't necessary have to live in the same area but they share a common interest. Community of Internet users is even more diverse. It can be all over the world.



You are probably using what is usually called a "concise" dictionary. Once you start having these questions, it is time for you to get a larger, better, dictionary. There are so many meaning to a word. Those small ones can't possibly cover them all.

Answer 3

Where I live, several neighborhoods and areas make up my community. School kids come together for school, but after school, they go in many different directions, back to to their own neighborhoods. That's why it's called a community school. We also have a community pool and a community center park.

Answer 4

You need to consult additional dictionaries. "Community" refers to both a group of people living in close proximity, and to the locality in which that group lives. It can also refer to a group of people who share a common interest, within a given area but not necessarily physically close together… For example, an Internet discussion group might say, "Please join our community of Oprah Book Club readers!"

Answer 5

Merriam-Webster dictionary says that community also means a place.



Oxford English dictionary says that community also means a place (and has been used in that sense for over 200 years).



You are an idiot.