Community vs Network

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Community

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 noun

Network

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 noun

	Community	Network
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/kəˈmjuːnəti/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/kəˈmjuːnəti/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈnetwɜːk/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈnetwɜːrk/"]/
Meaning	A group of people living in the same area or having similar interests.	A group of connected people or things.
Example	The community came together to clean the park.	I need to connect my computer to the network for internet access.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	A2	A2
Part of speech	noun	noun
Collocations	large, small, close, service, work, policing, in a/​the community, within a/​the community, the community as a whole, the community at large, a/​the community of faith, large, small, close, service, work, policing, in a/​the community, within a/​the community, the community as a whole, the community at large, a/​the community of faith	extensive, large, vast, build up, construct, create, infrastructure, in a/​the network, through a/​the network, via a/​the network, strong, supportive, informal, build up, create, form, in a/​the network, network of, computer, cellphone, communications, install, set up, maintain, administrator, controller, engineer, across a/​the network, on a/​the network, over a/​the network, broadcast, news, radio, news, newscast, show, on a/​the network
Antonyms	isolation, loneliness	isolation, disconnection
Common mistakes	Confusing 'community' with 'society' — 'society' is broader., Using 'communities' in contexts where 'community' is needed., Not knowing how to describe different types, like 'online community' or 'local community'.	Confused with 'net' referring to a fishing tool., Misusing 'network' as a verb when talking about relationships that aren't professional., Confusing 'network' with 'web' when describing online connections.
Usage notes	Use 'community' to refer to a group that shares something in common, such as location or interest. It's appropriate in most contexts but can sound too formal in casual conversations.	Use 'network' in professional or social contexts to talk about connections. Avoid in very casual conversations unless discussing friendships among acquaintances.

See it in real clips

and to the protection of his community.

The Wire › S1 E1

Community policing and all that.

and to the protection of his community.

The Wire › S1 E1

Community policing and all that.

Community

...you are tuned to the American Forces Vietnam Network.

Better Call Saul › S1 E1

It's Ned Beatty from Network.

Top Gear › S1 E1

on the road network over the next five years,

...you are tuned to the American Forces Vietnam Network.

Better Call Saul › S1 E1

It's Ned Beatty from Network.

Network

Frequently asked questions: Community vs Network

What's the difference between Community and Network?

Community: A group of people living in the same area or having similar interests. Network: A group of connected people or things.

Are Community and Network the same CEFR level?

Community: A2, Network: A2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Community and Network?

Community: noun, Network: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Community: The community came together to clean the park. Network: I need to connect my computer to the network for internet access.

Can I use Community and Network interchangeably?

Not always. Community and Network are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.