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communalism

[ kuh-myoon-l-iz-uhm, kom-yuh-nl- ]

noun

  1. 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.
  2. the principles or practices of communal ownership.
  3. strong allegiance to one's own ethnic group rather than to society as a whole.


communalism

/ ˈkɒmjʊnəˌlɪzəm /

noun

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


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Derived Forms

  • ˌcommunaˈlistic, adjective
  • ˈcommunalist, noun

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Other Words From

  • com·munal·ist noun
  • com·munal·istic adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of communalism1

First recorded in 1870–75; communal + -ism

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Example Sentences

It is an interesting fact that communalism has been confined to animals of comparatively low organization.

In this particular we seem to see an increase of something that may be called communalism, as we go backwards.

For all this, however, we must be careful not to see more communalism or more local self-government than really exists.

Why are rooks more sociable than ravens, and what do they gain from such communalism?

In the Orient the principle of communalism gained such headway as effectually to prevent the introduction of this new principle.

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communal aerialcommunality