communalism
UK[ˈkɒmjʊnəlɪzəm]US[kəˈmjuːnəlɪzəm]
n
A social or political theory that advocates the organization of society into cooperative communities.
n
The principle or practice of living together and sharing possessions and responsibilities.
Morpheme Breakdown
commun
al
ism
commun
common, shared
al
adjective suffix
ism
doctrine, system
Etymology
The term communalism is built upon the Latin foundation communis, meaning "common" or "shared by all," which itself derives from the hypothesized Proto-Indo-European root ko-moin-i-, with ko meaning "together" and moin likely related to exchange or duty. The suffix -al transforms this root into the adjective "communal," describing anything pertaining to a community. Finally, the addition of the Greek-derived suffix -ism, which denotes a distinctive practice or ideology, crystallizes the concept into a formal noun. Thus, the word's literal construction—"the doctrine (-ism) of that which is related to (-al) the common/shared (commun)"—logically evolves into its modern abstract meanings, encompassing both a socio-political theory prioritizing community ownership and the everyday practice of collective living.
Analysis
Structure: commun (common, shared) + al (adjective suffix) + ism (doctrine, system)
commun: From Latin communis, meaning "common, public, shared by all or many." It functions as the core root conveying the idea of shared life or resources.
al: A Latin-derived suffix forming adjectives meaning "of, relating to, or characterized by." In this word, it forms the adjective "communal."
ism: A suffix of Greek origin via Latin, used to form nouns denoting a distinctive system, theory, or practice.
Examples
The village's success was attributed to a strong sense of communalism, where resources were pooled for the benefit of all.
His political philosophy was rooted in communalism rather than individualism.
The commune practiced a form of religious communalism, holding all property in common.