Gromady

Gromady, or gromada in singular, is a term used across several Slavic languages to refer to a community, a group, or a local self-governing body. The word comes from a common Slavic root grom- that conveys gathering or assembly, and its precise legal meaning varies by language and period.

In Ukraine, the modern equivalent is hromada (Ukrainian: громада). A territorial hromada is the basic unit of local government, often comprising one or more settlements. Each hromada has a local council and an executive head and is responsible for local services such as education, healthcare, housing, utilities, and roads. Since the decentralization reform begun in the 2010s, thousands of hromadas have been voluntarily amalgamated to form larger administrative communities, increasing fiscal autonomy and local decision-making.

In Polish usage, gromada historically meant a local community or a peasant self-government group. Its administrative role varied over time, especially under partitions and the 20th-century reforms. In contemporary Poland, the term is largely historical or used in sociological contexts, with gmina serving as the common term for a municipality.

In other Slavic contexts, notably Russian and Belarusian, gromada likewise referred to a community, assembly, or association of people—often in rural or lay societies—rather than a fixed administrative unit. The term appears in historical records and some civil society expressions, but modern administration in these countries uses different designations.