Community vs. Locality — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 30, 2023
Community refers to a group of people with shared interests or values, whereas locality denotes a specific geographic area or place.
Difference Between Community and Locality
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Community is a term that primarily refers to a group of people who share common characteristics, interests, values, or beliefs. They might come together because of shared geography, but more often, it's due to a shared purpose or goal. On the other hand, Locality mainly describes a particular geographic area, region, or place. It focuses on the physical space and its defining characteristics rather than the people or their shared attributes.
Community often has an inherent sense of belonging and connectedness among its members. These people frequently interact, support one another, and share a sense of identity. Locality, in contrast, doesn't necessarily imply any relationship among the people living there. It's more about the physical location and its boundaries.
Community can exist without a specific geographical boundary. Online communities, for instance, can span the globe, uniting individuals from various locations based on shared interests. Locality is intrinsically tied to geography, always referencing a specific, definable place.
In discussing Community, one often delves into the cultural, social, or even economic ties that bind its members. The word reflects relationships, unity, and shared experiences. However, when speaking of Locality, the focus shifts to geographical attributes, landmarks, and perhaps the history of that specific place.
Community can change and evolve based on the people and their interactions within it. A community can grow, divide, merge, or even disappear. Locality, while it can undergo changes in terms of development or environmental shifts, remains geographically constant in its position.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A group of people with shared interests or values.
A specific geographic area or place.
Primary Focus
People and their shared attributes.
Geographic location.
Boundaries
Not always geographically defined.
Defined by geographical attributes.
Changeability
Can evolve based on its members' interactions.
Remains geographically constant.
Implies Relationships
Yes, among its members.
No, it's about the location.
Compare with Definitions
Community
A community is a social unit (a group of living things) with commonality such as norms, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given geographical area (e.g.
Locality
A particular neighborhood or area.
This locality is known for its historical buildings.
Community
A group of people living in the same locality and under the same government.
Locality
A small district or community within a town or city.
The best bakery in the locality is just around the corner.
Community
The district or locality in which such a group lives.
Locality
A geographic region defined by specific boundaries.
This locality has its own set of bylaws.
Community
A group of people having common interests
The scientific community.
The international business community.
Locality
A particular neighborhood, place, or district
"Localities, even individual villages, developed their own languages" (Wall Street Journal).
Community
A group viewed as forming a distinct segment of society
The gay community.
The community of color.
Locality
The fact or quality of having position in space.
Community
Similarity or identity
A community of interests.
Locality
The fact or quality of having a position in space.
Community
Sharing, participation, and fellowship
A sense of community.
Locality
The features or surroundings of a particular place.
Community
Society as a whole; the public.
Locality
The condition of being local.
Community
A group of organisms interacting with one another and with the environment in a specific region.
Locality
The situation or position of an object.
Community
The region occupied by a group of interacting organisms.
Locality
An area or district considered as the site of certain activities; a neighbourhood.
Community
(countable) A group sharing a common understanding, and often the same language, law, manners, and/or tradition.
Locality
Limitation to a county, district, or place.
Community
(countable) A residential or religious collective; a commune.
Locality
(geography) A built-up area, i.e. a city, town or village
Community
A group of interdependent organisms inhabiting the same region and interacting with each other.
Locality
The perceptive faculty concerned with the ability to remember the relative positions of places.
Community
A group of people interacting by electronic means for educational, professional, social, or other purposes; a virtual community.
Locality
The state, or condition, of belonging to a definite place, or of being contained within definite limits.
It is thought that the soul and angels are devoid of quantityand dimension, and that they have nothing to do with grosser locality.
Community
(uncountable) The condition of having certain attitudes and interests in common.
Locality
Position; situation; a place; a spot; esp., a geographical place or situation, as of a mineral or plant.
Community
Common enjoyment or possession; participation.
A community of goods
Locality
Limitation to a county, district, or place; as, locality of trial.
Community
Common character; likeness.
Locality
The perceptive faculty concerned with the ability to remember the relative positions of places.
Community
Commonness; frequency.
Locality
A surrounding or nearby region;
The plane crashed in the vicinity of Asheville
It is a rugged locality
He always blames someone else in the immediate neighborhood
I will drop in on you the next time I am in this neck of the woods
Community
A local area within a county or county borough which is the lowest tier of local government, usually represented by a community council or town council, which is generally equivalent to a civil parish in England.
Locality
A surrounding or nearby region.
Plants indigenous to this locality thrive here.
Community
Common possession or enjoyment; participation; as, a community of goods.
The original community of all things.
An unreserved community of thought and feeling.
Locality
The position or site of something.
The locality of the treasure remains a mystery.
Community
A body of people having common rights, privileges, or interests, or living in the same place under the same laws and regulations; as, a community of monks. Hence a number of animals living in a common home or with some apparent association of interests.
Creatures that in communities exist.
Community
Society at large; a commonwealth or state; a body politic; the public, or people in general.
Burdens upon the poorer classes of the community.
Community
Common character; likeness.
The essential community of nature between organic growth and inorganic growth.
Community
Commonness; frequency.
Eyes . . . sick and blunted with community.
Community
A group of people living in a particular local area;
The team is drawn from all parts of the community
Community
A group of people having ethnic or cultural or religious characteristics in common;
The Christian community of the apostolic age
He was well known throughout the Catholic community
Community
Common ownership;
They shared a community of possessions
Community
A group of nations having common interests;
They hoped to join the NATO community
Community
The body of people in a learned occupation;
The news spread rapidly through the medical community
Community
Agreement as to goals;
The preachers and the bootleggers found they had a community of interests
Community
A district where people live; occupied primarily by private residences
Community
(ecology) a group of interdependent organisms inhabiting the same region and interacting with each other
Community
A group of people living in the same place or having a common characteristic.
The gaming community is excited about the new release.
Community
A body of people with shared interests or values, regardless of their location.
The global community of scientists collaborates on research.
Community
A feeling of fellowship due to shared interests, goals, or beliefs.
The sense of community in the club is palpable.
Community
A group that interacts frequently, often in a specific online space.
The online community on that forum is very active.
Community
A group linked by a common policy or role within society.
The business community voiced concerns about the new regulation.
Common Curiosities
Is the concept of locality limited to urban areas?
No, a locality can refer to any specific geographic area, be it urban, suburban, or rural.
What's the relationship between community and locality?
While a community can be based in a specific locality, its essence is the shared ties among people, whereas locality emphasizes geography.
Can a locality refer to an online space?
No, a locality refers to a specific geographic area or place, not virtual spaces.
What is a community primarily based on?
Community is primarily based on shared interests, values, or characteristics among people.
Can two distinct communities exist within the same locality?
Yes, multiple communities with different interests or characteristics can coexist in the same locality.
Can a community exist without a specific geographic boundary?
Yes, communities can exist without geographic boundaries, such as online communities.
Is locality primarily about the relationships between people?
No, locality is about a specific geographic location, not the relationships of its inhabitants.
Can a community span across multiple localities?
Yes, a community can include members from different localities, especially in the context of global or online communities.
Can a person belong to multiple communities?
Yes, a person can be a part of multiple communities based on different interests, affiliations, or characteristics.
Can the boundaries of a locality change?
Yes, the recognized boundaries of a locality can change due to administrative decisions or other factors.
How does a locality gain its identity?
A locality gains its identity through its geographical features, history, and sometimes by the communities residing in it.
Is a city considered a locality?
Yes, a city can be considered a locality as it's a specific geographic area.
Can community values influence the development of a locality?
Yes, the values and priorities of a community can shape the growth and development of a locality.
Is every locality associated with a community?
Not necessarily. While many localities have communities, a locality's primary definition is geographic, not social.
Can an individual influence a community?
Yes, individuals, especially those taking on leadership roles, can influence the direction and values of a community.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
