Final answer:
A community is defined as a group of people who share common interests and values, which can extend beyond geographic boundaries to include virtual or interest-based communities, essential to the communitarianism philosophy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Derived from the Latin word communitas, community is a group of people with shared interests and values. While often communities are geographically based, they are not exclusively defined by a geographic region. Communities can also be built around shared interests, beliefs, or goals regardless of the physical location of its members. This can include virtual communities or those united by a common cause or profession. The concept of community is fundamental to communitarianism, where the shared values and social contracts of a community may supersede individual interests, emphasizing a collective obligation and mutual responsibility among its members.