communication

The word “communication” means the act of sharing or exchanging information, ideas, or feelings. In plain terms, the process of exchanging information — or a specific message that gets sent.

“Communication” is pronounced kuh-myoo-nih-KAY-shuhn (/kəˌmju.nɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/ in IPA).

Here is “communication” used in a sentence: “Clear communication is essential in any relationship.”

The opposite of “communication” — its antonyms — is anticommunication.

“Communication” is a noun.

The word “communication” comes from Latin. From Latin communicatio ("imparting, sharing"), from communicare ("to make common, to share").

“Communication” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Communication” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of sharing or exchanging information, ideas, or feelings.

Communication generally falls into four types: verbal (spoken words), nonverbal (body language, gestures, and facial expressions), written (letters, texts, and emails), and visual (images, charts, and signs). Most real exchanges blend several at once — a conversation, for instance, combines spoken words with tone of voice and expression.

A conversation is one specific form of communication — a live, back-and-forth exchange of spoken words between people. Communication is the far broader term, covering every way information passes between senders and receivers: writing, gestures, images, signals, and more. Every conversation is communication, but most communication is not conversation.

Communication is how people share knowledge, coordinate action, and build relationships. Without it, ideas stay trapped in one mind and misunderstandings multiply. Clear communication prevents errors at work, resolves conflict, and lets groups cooperate toward shared goals. It underpins nearly every human activity, from teamwork and teaching to friendship and trade.

Yes. While some people are naturally outgoing, communication is a skill anyone can develop with practice. Active listening, clear phrasing, reading body language, and adjusting your message to your audience all improve over time. Coaching, feedback, and simply speaking and writing more regularly are proven ways to become a stronger communicator.