What does "communication" mean?
The act or fact of communicating anything; transmission.
Communication
/kəˌmjuː.nɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act or fact of communicating anything; transmission.
- Grammar: communication is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: academic discipline, access, accommodation, accordance.
- Useful contrasts: no communication, no interaction, no interactions.
- Usage evidence: Their communication may be much more complex than we thought.
How to use "communication"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "communication" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "communication" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "communication" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "communication" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "communication" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "academic discipline" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "communication", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act or fact of communicating anything; transmission. countable, uncountable
"communication of smallpox"
- 2 something that is communicated by or to or between people or groups wordnet
- 3 The concept or state of exchanging data or information between entities. uncountable
"Some say that communication is a necessary prerequisite for sentience; others say that it is a result thereof."
- 4 the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information wordnet
- 5 A message; the essential data transferred in an act of communication. countable, uncountable
"Surveillance was accomplished by means of intercepting the spies' communications."
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 a connection allowing access between persons or places wordnet
- 7 The body of all data transferred to one or both parties during an act of communication. countable, uncountable
"The subpoena required that the company document their communication with the plaintiff."
- 8 An instance of information transfer; a conversation or discourse. countable, uncountable
"The professors' communications consisted of lively discussions via email."
- 9 A passageway or opening between two locations; connection. countable, uncountable
"A round archway at the far end of the hallway provided communication to the main chamber."
- 10 A connection between two tissues, organs, or cavities. countable, uncountable
"...and here a free communication had been established between the aorta and the vena cava."
- 11 Association; company. countable, obsolete, uncountable
"Evil communications corrupt good manners."
- 12 Participation in Holy Communion. countable, uncountable
"We admit them in the Church to a right of Communication to drink of the Cup of the Bloud of Christ."
- 13 A trope by which a speaker assumes that his hearer is a partner in his sentiments, and says "we" instead of "I" or "you". countable, rhetoric, uncountable
"Communication[…]takes place when a speaker or writer assumes his hearer or reader as a partner in his sentiments and discourse, saying We, instead of I or Ye."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Their communication may be much more complex than we thought."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "communication"?
Common synonyms include: academic discipline, access, accommodation, accordance, account, acknowledgment.
How do you use "communication" in a sentence?
Their communication may be much more complex than we thought.
How do you pronounce "communication"?
Pronounced /kəˌmjuː.nɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English comunicacioun, communicacion (“discussion, association”), from Old French communicacion, from Latin commūnicātiōnem, accusative singular of commūnicātiō (“imparting, communicating”), from commūnicō (“I share, I impart”). Morphologically communicate + -ion.
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