What is the definition of a community?

The definition of a community is best represented as a group of people with a common background or interest. This emphasizes the connections and shared experiences that bind individuals together, whether those are cultural, social, geographical, or based on shared interests or goals.

Communities can arise in various forms, such as neighborhoods, online forums, professional groups, or organizations, showcasing the myriad ways people come together while sharing a sense of belonging. Understanding a community through this lens highlights the importance of social interactions, support systems, and collective identity among its members.

Other descriptions, such as individuals living in isolation, do not capture the essence of a community as they depict a lack of interaction rather than a connection. Similarly, a group of people without common interests fails to address the key factor of shared purposes or connections that define a community. The notion of a collective of families only restricts the definition and overlooks the diversity of community structures that include individuals and various configurations beyond just familial ties. Thus, the focus on shared backgrounds or interests provides a comprehensive view of what constitutes a community.