Neighbourhood, local residents, network, association, and sense of belonging can replace community in different contexts. Neighbourhood names a place, network names connections, and sense of belonging names a shared feeling. For example: The local residents organised a welcome event.
Community can mean people living in an area, people sharing an interest or identity, or the relationship between them. A society, audience, and neighbourhood are not automatically close-knit. Choose the replacement that states what connects the people.
These 30 alternatives include at least four example sentences each, giving you 124 examples for choosing the right meaning, tone, and construction. Some are direct replacements; others express a particular sense or need a sentence rewrite.
Neighbourhood means a local area and can also refer to the people who live there.
Alternatives for shared interests and organisations
Network
Network means people or organisations connected through relationships.
Alternatives for connection and shared feeling
Fellowship
Fellowship means friendly association and companionship, often through a shared purpose.
More terms for shared places, interests, and identities
District
District names an area defined for administration, geography, or another practical purpose.
Alternatives for people and places
Local residents
Local residents names people who live in a particular area.
Alternatives for shared interests and organisations
Association
Association means an organised group formed around a shared purpose.
Alternatives for people and places
1. Neighbourhood
Neighbourhood means a local area and can also refer to the people who live there. It is a useful alternative for a geographically local community, but excludes communities spread across many places. Use it for a local setting in everyday speech and writing; identify the area if readers would not know which residents or boundaries are intended. The local boundary matters more here than an interest shared across several places.
Neighbourhood fits when you mean a local area and its residents.
The neighbourhood organised a summer picnic.
The library serves a neighbourhood beside the old station.
She asked the neighbourhood to comment on the proposal.
The neighbourhood opened a shared noticeboard beside the library.
The neighbourhood contributed photographs to an exhibition about the old market.
2. Local residents
Local residents names people who live in a particular area. It is more precise than community when residence, rather than shared identity or participation, defines the group. This phrase fits consultation notices and factual reports; it includes people based on where they live, without assuming that they all share the same views. The description avoids assuming that all people living nearby belong to one organisation.
Local residents attended the planning meeting.
The organisers invited local residents to inspect the design.
Local residents raised questions about evening access.
The survey asked local residents about the proposed evening service.
The invitation encouraged local residents to bring questions about the proposed access route.
3. Town
Town can stand for a town’s people as well as the place. It is a natural alternative when the relevant community fits those geographic boundaries. It works in local news and personal accounts; when accuracy matters, distinguish actions of the town’s representatives from opinions held by every resident. The place can stand for its people, but individual views may still differ.
Town fits when you mean a place and its people.
The town came together for the anniversary parade.
The exhibition tells the town's history.
The town welcomed the visiting musicians.
The town gathered in the square to welcome the returning athletes.
The town welcomed the returning choir with a short concert in the square.
4. Village
Village can mean the settlement or its residents. It works for a small geographic community, but should not be used to romanticise a group whose location is unknown. Use it only for an actual village or a clearly figurative description; the word alone does not prove closeness, agreement, or a shared way of life. The smaller geographic scale does not automatically make the residents closely connected.
The village raised funds to repair the bridge.
The school invited the village to its open evening.
The village discussed the bus timetable at the hall.
The village held a meeting about the bridge repairs.
The village shared its hall with the neighbouring school during the repairs.
5. Population
Population means the people or organisms in a defined area or group. It suits descriptive and statistical contexts without implying shared bonds. Use population of to define the group precisely; in a report it avoids implying the personal connections that community can suggest in everyday speech. The defined group can be counted without claiming its members know one another.
Population fits when you mean people in a defined area.
The survey sampled the population of the district.
The centre serves a growing population.
The presentation compared the populations of three coastal towns.
The library adjusted its opening hours for the district's changing population.
6. Public
Public means ordinary people collectively, often as the audience for a service or decision. It is broader than a particular community and suits statements about access or consultation. It fits service announcements and public consultation; specify a subgroup if the original community is smaller than everyone who might read or attend the event. The broader audience can include visitors as well as people living locally.
The museum opened the archive to the public.
The council invited the public to submit comments.
The speaker explained how the change would affect the public.
The organisers opened the rehearsal to the public on Friday.
Alternatives for shared interests and organisations
7. Network
Network means people or organisations connected through relationships. It suits professional or support communities, but does not necessarily imply formal membership. Use a network of followed by the people or organisations connected; it stresses relationships and information exchange, not necessarily emotional belonging or fixed membership. The connections may involve advice or resources without a formal committee or club.
Network fits when you mean people connected by relationships.
She joined a network of freelance editors.
The network shares opportunities through a monthly newsletter.
The support network helped new arrivals find practical advice.
A network of local tutors shared practical advice about the course.
8. Association
Association means an organised group formed around a shared purpose. It is more formal and structured than many informal communities. It suits formal descriptions where the group has a name, purpose, or rules; informal neighbours may form a community without forming an association. The organisation usually has a stated purpose that helps explain why people join.
The association runs training for new members.
She addressed the local gardening association.
The association voted to hold its next meeting online.
The residents' association sent a representative to the planning meeting.
9. Society
Society can mean an organised group with shared interests or people collectively. It fits named interest groups, but the wider social sense is much broader than one community. Use the group’s subject to distinguish it from society as a whole; a society for local history has a narrower scope than social life generally. The group’s name often identifies the shared interest more clearly than community alone.
Society fits when you mean an organised interest group.
The history society invited a guest speaker.
The society keeps an archive of old photographs.
She joined a society devoted to local wildlife.
The astronomy society welcomed newcomers to its monthly talk.
10. Collective
Collective means a group whose members act or work together, often sharing responsibility. It implies cooperative action that community alone does not require. It works for people sharing work or responsibility, especially in creative settings; specify the activity rather than assuming every community operates cooperatively. Shared practical work distinguishes the collective from a network that mainly exchanges information.
The artists' collective organised the exhibition.
The collective shares a small rehearsal space.
A local design collective produced the festival programme.
The theatre collective shared costumes and rehearsal space with a visiting group.
11. Circle
Circle describes people connected through friendship or common interests. It suits smaller, more personal communities and does not imply a formal organisation. Use a circle of people or a named activity circle in personal contexts; it can imply a smaller connection than a wide online or professional community. The connection can be personal and informal without a written set of rules.
Circle fits when you mean a smaller personal group.
The reading circle meets on the first Thursday.
Her circle of colleagues shared advice about the application.
The discussion began within a small circle of volunteers.
The conversation began in a circle of neighbours who met at the café.
12. Interest group
Interest group names people connected by a shared concern or subject. It can also suggest organised advocacy, so specify the interest if the context is informal. It is useful for a shared topic or concern; the phrase can sound political in advocacy contexts, so name the activity if the group is social. The shared subject or cause is the organising feature rather than a location.
The library formed an interest group for local history.
The interest group submitted comments on the transport plan.
Each interest group chose a representative for the meeting.
The new interest group met to discuss the town's old railway photographs.
13. Membership
Membership can mean the members of an organisation collectively. It fits a community with defined membership, rather than everyone who informally takes part. Use it where joining the organisation defines inclusion; this term excludes informal participants unless they are members, so it may narrow the original community. The formal boundary matters when votes, responsibilities, or access depend on joining.
Membership fits when you mean members collectively.
The membership voted on the revised rules.
She asked the membership to suggest future workshop topics.
The newsletter keeps the membership informed about new events.
The membership suggested three subjects for the next training event.
Alternatives for connection and shared feeling
14. Fellowship
Fellowship means friendly association and companionship, often through a shared purpose. It fits the relational sense of community rather than simply naming a population. It fits shared activities and friendly relationships, sometimes with religious associations; use it for the feeling between people rather than an address-based population. The friendly relationship can develop through shared activity rather than formal appointment.
The weekly meals created a sense of fellowship.
The group valued fellowship as much as the activity itself.
Their shared work developed into lasting fellowship.
The weekly walks created fellowship between people who had not met before.
15. Solidarity
Solidarity means unity and mutual support, often around a shared cause. It is a stronger claim than community and should fit actual support or joint action. Use solidarity with a person or cause or between groups; it describes support or unity and is a stronger claim than merely sharing a profession or location. The active support distinguishes solidarity from merely being present in the same place.
Solidarity fits when you mean unity and mutual support.
The workers expressed solidarity with the volunteers.
The event was organised in solidarity with displaced families.
Their joint statement showed solidarity across the two groups.
The joint event showed solidarity between the two volunteer organisations.
16. Sense of belonging
Sense of belonging describes feeling accepted as part of a group. It replaces community when the original refers to an experience of inclusion, usually with a sentence rewrite. It suits personal experience and inclusion work; describe the welcome or participation involved rather than assuming a named community guarantees that everyone feels accepted. Belonging describes a person’s experience rather than a membership label in a database.
The welcome session helped create a sense of belonging.
She found a sense of belonging in the writing group.
Regular shared meals strengthened his sense of belonging.
The mentoring group gave the newcomers a sense of belonging.
17. Common ground
Common ground means shared views, experiences, or interests. It fits the shared element of community, rather than naming the people themselves. Use find common ground or common ground between groups when agreement develops; it identifies a connection, not the people themselves or a formal organisation. The agreement may concern one issue while leaving other differences unresolved between participants.
Common ground fits when you mean shared views or interests.
The discussion revealed common ground between the two groups.
A love of music gave the newcomers common ground.
They found common ground in their concern for the library.
The participants found common ground in their wish to keep the hall open.
18. Togetherness
Togetherness means a feeling of closeness or unity. It has a warm, informal tone and suits a community experience rather than an administrative description of residents. It works in warm personal or event descriptions; for a factual consultation report, use cooperation or participation when you need to describe observable activity. The warm feeling can be temporary rather than a permanent organisational structure.
The festival created a feeling of togetherness.
Shared meals gave the group a sense of togetherness.
The song captured the togetherness of the occasion.
The shared meal gave the final evening a feeling of togetherness.
More terms for shared places, interests, and identities
19. District
District names an area defined for administration, geography, or another practical purpose. It can replace community when the sentence is really about a locality or its residents, but the two are not identical. Use the district or residents of the district where the boundaries matter. A district may contain several communities and does not imply one shared identity or opinion.
The district held a public meeting about the library.
The centre serves families across the district.
The survey invited people from the district to reply.
The district's schools shared the new rehearsal space.
20. Locality
Locality means a particular place or surrounding area. It is a formal alternative when community refers to geographic surroundings rather than a connected group of people. Use in the locality or the locality’s residents in reports and planning discussion. It names location, so it may need a sentence rewrite if the original describes belonging, friendship, or collective action rather than the area itself.
The service is available throughout the locality.
Residents of the locality attended the exhibition.
The report examines access to meeting rooms in the locality.
The organisers contacted schools in the locality before advertising the event.
21. Congregation
Congregation usually means people assembled for religious worship or belonging to a religious organisation. It is a precise alternative for that kind of community, rather than a general synonym for any gathering. Use it when the shared worship or religious membership matters. If the people merely attend a secular talk in the same building, audience or attendees will avoid adding an unsupported religious connection.
The congregation welcomed the visiting choir.
Members of the congregation prepared the hall for the meal.
The congregation discussed how to support the local shelter.
The speaker thanked the congregation for its hospitality.
22. Constituency
Constituency can mean the people represented by a person or organisation, particularly an elected representative. It is a useful alternative when community means a defined group whose interests are being served. Use it in political or organisational discussion, and clarify who represents whom. It does not necessarily describe friendship or shared identity, and members may hold sharply different views on the same proposal.
The representative consulted her constituency about the transport plan.
The association asked its constituency to comment on the draft.
The speech addressed concerns raised across the constituency.
The new service was designed for a wider constituency of learners.
23. Brotherhood
Brotherhood describes a shared bond or association, traditionally among men but also used figuratively for solidarity. It can replace community when close mutual connection is the point. Use it carefully because the word may suggest male membership or a particular formal organisation. An inclusive mixed group may prefer fellowship or shared solidarity unless its established name or intended metaphor supports brotherhood.
The story describes a brotherhood formed through shared work.
The members spoke of brotherhood after years of travelling together.
The speech praised a brotherhood of craftspeople.
The old association called itself a brotherhood in its founding rules.
24. Sisterhood
Sisterhood describes a bond or association among women, often involving mutual support. It is a useful alternative for a community defined by that shared identity and relationship. Use it in personal or organisational contexts where the group itself accepts the term. It is narrower than community and should not imply that all women share one experience, view, or level of connection.
The group described its support as a form of sisterhood.
The memoir recalls a sisterhood built during the training course.
The event celebrated sisterhood among the participating artists.
Their regular meetings created a lasting sense of sisterhood.
25. Fraternity
Fraternity can describe an association or bond among people, traditionally with male membership, and also has specific college and organisational meanings. It can replace community in those settings but may add formal or gendered associations. Use the established name or clarify the type of group. For a mixed informal network, association or fellowship is often less likely to create an unintended implication.
The fraternity held a welcome event for new members.
The exhibition traces the history of the local fraternity.
The speaker addressed a fraternity of skilled craftspeople.
The fraternity's members shared responsibility for maintaining the hall.
26. Guild
Guild means an association of people sharing a craft, trade, or profession. It is a specific alternative for a professional community with that structure or identity. Use it where a guild actually exists rather than as a decorative label for any network. The word often suggests organised membership and may carry historical associations, so explain the group’s role when readers are unfamiliar with it.
The guild organised a workshop for new members.
The craft guild displayed its work in the town hall.
Members of the guild shared advice about restoring the frame.
The guild invited the apprentice to its annual exhibition.
27. Club
Club means an organised group whose members share an activity or interest. It is a natural alternative for a community formed around regular participation, but usually implies membership or an identifiable organisation. Use it for an actual reading, sports, or social club. A wider network of interested people may be a community without joining or attending the same regular meetings.
The club meets every Thursday in the library.
The reading club welcomed visitors to its open session.
She joined the club after attending a public demonstration.
The club organised a shared exhibition of members' work.
28. Online forum
Online forum names a digital space for discussion and can informally stand for the people participating in it. It replaces community when shared online conversation is the point. Use it carefully because the platform and its members are different things. A forum may host several communities, and simply opening an account does not guarantee an active relationship or sense of belonging.
The online forum helped new presenters exchange ideas.
Members of the online forum reviewed the practice questions.
She found useful advice in an online forum for local historians.
The online forum hosted a discussion about accessible meeting spaces.
29. Support group
Support group means people meeting or communicating to help one another with a shared challenge or circumstance. It is a narrower alternative for a caring community and names its practical purpose. Use it only when support is part of the group’s role, rather than assuming every interest network provides that help. Do not add a therapeutic or clinical function unless it actually exists.
The support group met at the community centre.
She joined a support group for people returning to study.
The support group shared advice about managing unfamiliar routines.
The organiser helped the new support group find a quiet meeting room.
30. Shared identity
Shared identity means a characteristic, background, or affiliation that connects people. It is a phrase-level alternative when community refers to the connection rather than the people themselves. Use it in explanatory writing and make the shared element explicit. A shared identity does not mean identical opinions or experiences, and people can belong to several communities through different parts of their lives.
The festival explored a shared identity through local stories.
The group found a shared identity in its work as volunteers.
The exhibition reflects a shared identity without ignoring individual differences.
Their shared identity helped start the conversation, but their experiences varied.
What is another word for a local community?
Neighbourhood fits a local area, and local residents fits the people living there. Town or village works when the actual settlement matches. Community may still be better when you mean shared relationships as well as location.
What can I use instead of online community?
Online network suits connected people sharing information or opportunities. Discussion group suits people taking part in conversations. Forum names a discussion space or platform, so it does not always replace the people themselves.
Are society and community interchangeable?
Sometimes, but society can mean the whole population and its institutions, or a formal interest organisation. Community often emphasises people connected by place, identity, or purpose. Check the scale and whether formal membership is involved.
Choosing the right wording
Do not assume everyone in an area or profession feels the same sense of connection. Use residents when you mean residence, members when you mean membership, and community when the shared identity or relationship is part of the point. For conversations about these relationships, try our sociology discussion topics. For speaking across different backgrounds, see intercultural communication.
Community alternatives at a glance
Alternative
Meaning and use
Neighbourhood
Neighbourhood means a local area and can also refer to the people who live there.
Local residents
Local residents names people who live in a particular area.
Town
Town can stand for a town's people as well as the place.
Village
Village can mean the settlement or its residents.
Population
Population means the people or organisms in a defined area or group.
Public
Public means ordinary people collectively, often as the audience for a service or decision.
Network
Network means people or organisations connected through relationships.
Association
Association means an organised group formed around a shared purpose.
Society
Society can mean an organised group with shared interests or people collectively.
Collective
Collective means a group whose members act or work together, often sharing responsibility.
Circle
Circle describes people connected through friendship or common interests.
Interest group
Interest group names people connected by a shared concern or subject.
Membership
Membership can mean the members of an organisation collectively.
Fellowship
Fellowship means friendly association and companionship, often through a shared purpose.
Solidarity
Solidarity means unity and mutual support, often around a shared cause.
Sense of belonging
Sense of belonging describes feeling accepted as part of a group.
Common ground
Common ground means shared views, experiences, or interests.
Togetherness
Togetherness means a feeling of closeness or unity.
District
District names an area defined for administration, geography, or another practical purpose.
Locality
Locality means a particular place or surrounding area.
Congregation
Congregation usually means people assembled for religious worship or belonging to a religious organisation.
Constituency
Constituency can mean the people represented by a person or organisation, particularly an elected representative.
Brotherhood
Brotherhood describes a shared bond or association, traditionally among men but also used figuratively for solidarity.
Sisterhood
Sisterhood describes a bond or association among women, often involving mutual support.
Fraternity
Fraternity can describe an association or bond among people, traditionally with male membership, and also has specific college and organisational meanings.
Guild
Guild means an association of people sharing a craft, trade, or profession.
Club
Club means an organised group whose members share an activity or interest.
Online forum
Online forum names a digital space for discussion and can informally stand for the people participating in it.
Support group
Support group means people meeting or communicating to help one another with a shared challenge or circumstance.
Shared identity
Shared identity means a characteristic, background, or affiliation that connects people.
