communion

UK: 'communion', 'Communion': /kəˈmjuːnjən/

US: /kəˈmjunjən/

US: (kə myo̅o̅n′yən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

com•mun•ion /kəˈmyunyən/   n. 

1. Religion [often: Communion] Also called ˈHo•ly Comˈmun•ion.
   • [uncountable] the act of receiving the bread and wine at a Christian eucharistic service.
   • [uncountable] the bread and wine so received.
2. Religion [countable] a group of people having a common religious faith;
   denomination:
   the Anglican communion.
3. the exchanging or sharing of thoughts or emotions:
   [uncountable] communion with nature.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

com•mun•ion  (kə myo̅o̅n′yən), n. 

1. Religion (often cap.) Also called Holy Communion. [Eccles.]
   • the act of receiving the Eucharistic elements.
   • the elements of the Eucharist.
   • the celebration of the Eucharist.
   • the antiphon sung at a Eucharistic service.
2. Religion a group of persons having a common religious faith;
   a religious denomination:
   Anglican communion.
3. association;
   fellowship.
4. interchange or sharing of thoughts or emotions;
   intimate communication:
   communion with nature.
5. the act of sharing, or holding in common;
   participation.
6. the state of things so held.

• Latin commūniōn- (stem of commūniō) a sharing, equivalent. to commūn(is) common + -iōn- -ion
• Anglo-French)
• Middle English (1350–1400

com•mun′ion•a•ble, adj. 
com•mun′ion•al, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

communion / kəˈmjuːnjən/ noun

1. an exchange of thoughts, emotions, etc
2. possession or sharing in common; participation
3. (followed by with) strong emotional or spiritual feelings (for): communion with nature
4. a religious group or denomination having a common body of beliefs, doctrines, and practices
5. the spiritual union held by Christians to exist between individual Christians and Christ, their Church, or their fellow Christians

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin commūniō general participation, from commūnis common

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Communion / kəˈmjuːnjən/ noun

1. the act of participating in the Eucharist
2. the celebration of the Eucharist, esp the part of the service during which the consecrated elements are received

Also called: Holy Communion