common

adjective

ˈkä-mən How to pronounce common (audio)
Definition of commonnext
1
as in ordinary
often observed or encountered horse ranches are a common sight in that part of the state

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2
as in normal
being of the type that is encountered in the normal course of events just a common house cat but an extraordinary friend

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3
as in general
belonging or relating to the whole facts of common knowledge

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4
as in low
belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank a man of wealth and privilege who mingled without pretense with the common folk

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5
as in prevailing
held by or applicable to a majority of the people a politician who works not for the special interests but for the common good

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6
as in collective
used or done by a number of people as a group used a common bathroom while at the campground

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7
as in mediocre
of average to below average quality has a common singing voice that's good enough for performing at those venues

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8
as in poor
of low quality furniture of common workmanship that did not justify the high prices

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9
as in vulgar
lacking in refinement or good taste embarrassed by the common manners of his new in-laws

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective common contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of common are familiar, ordinary, plain, popular, and vulgar. While all these words mean "generally met with and not in any way special, strange, or unusual," common implies usual everyday quality or frequency of occurrence and may additionally suggest inferiority or coarseness.

a common error
lacked common honesty
common manners

When would familiar be a good substitute for common?

The words familiar and common are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, familiar stresses the fact of being generally known and easily recognized.

a familiar melody

In what contexts can ordinary take the place of common?

The meanings of ordinary and common largely overlap; however, ordinary stresses conformance in quality or kind with the regular order of things.

an ordinary pleasant summer day
a very ordinary sort of man

When is plain a more appropriate choice than common?

While in some cases nearly identical to common, plain is likely to suggest homely simplicity.

plain hard-working people

When might popular be a better fit than common?

Although the words popular and common have much in common, popular applies to what is accepted by or prevalent among people in general sometimes in contrast to upper classes or special groups.

a writer of popular romances

How do vulgar and popular relate to one another, in the sense of common?

Vulgar, otherwise similar to popular, is likely to carry derogatory connotations (as of inferiority or coarseness).

souvenirs designed to appeal to the vulgar taste

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of common Now, economic nationalism is becoming a much more common refrain than free trade. —John Rennie Short, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025 Pollen is abundant, Cho adds—a single floret of the common sunflower, for instance, produces 25,000 to 67,000 grains every summer. —Sandy Ong, JSTOR Daily, 11 Sep. 2025 The community offered no common amenities. —Joyce Cohen, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025 High temperatures in the 70s and 80s will be common along the Eastern Seaboard. —Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for common
Recent Examples of Synonyms for common
  1. ordinary
  2. normal
  3. general
  4. low
  5. collective
  6. mediocre
  7. poor
  8. vulgar
Adjective
  • That was followed by the Israeli-Gaza war, which to date has claimed the lives of around 64,000 Palestinians, including ordinary Gazans, according to the local health authority.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Joan and Luke had a love that was all fireworks and sexy dazzle; after Luke died, Joan married Larry, who was all ordinary-guy solidity.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025
Definition of ordinary
Adjective
  • Magnesium is needed to transport potassium and calcium across cell membranes and maintain normal heart rhythms.
    — Jennifer Lefton, Verywell Health, 16 Sep. 2025
  • The weather when the sailor went missing were close to normal, according to Sky News Australia's Senior Meteorologist Rob Sharpe.
    — Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Definition of normal
Adjective
  • The wind and current was such that, as the plane flew over us and dropped the bales of cocaine, the cargo would theoretically stay in the general area between where I was stationed in the Mako and where our mothership was anchored.
    — Martin Suarez, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2025
  • In general, why should moist soil be a problem for plants if water is so crucial to their growth?
    — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
Definition of general
Adjective
  • The report said that water storage in Washington’s five reservoirs in the Yakima River Basin has dropped sharply, bringing levels, at times, to some of the lowest measured since record-keeping started in 1971.
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025
  • The ultra-low-cost model clearly isn't providing customer satisfaction, even if the fares look cheap.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Definition of low
Adjective
  • Hanna When Kirsten Becken first reached out to me about joining the Femxphotographers collective, I was both flattered and intrigued.
    — Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Joining the collection soon will be new site-specific works created by the artist collective RojoNegro (composed of Noé Martínez and María Sosa), sculptor Max Hooper Schneider and poet, artist and chef Precious Okoyomon.
    — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
Definition of collective
Adjective
  • Never follow your boyfriend to college, especially a seemingly mediocre college, as Belly does with Jeremiah to the fictional Finch.
    — Vogue, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2025
  • There’s enough blame to fill what’s left of the world’s melting glaciers after this debacle of an opener in which the Dolphins were dominated, 33-8, by a mediocre Colts team and looks further from contention than any time this decade.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
Definition of mediocre
Adjective
  • Cutting carbs entirely can raise the risk of cholesterol, kidney stones, poor bone health, gut problems, and even cancer, added Stefanki.
    — Caitlin Pagán, Verywell Health, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Before Wednesday’s game, people within the organization were optimistic about Helsley putting his tipping problem and overall poor pitching behind him, pointing to a clean inning Monday.
    — Will Sammon, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • The book is filled with vulgar pictures, with many faces blacked out, and messages both handwritten and typed from well-wishers for Epstein’s 50th birthday.
    — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The biopic is the vulgar but necessary tribute inherently populist cinema pays to more traditional, higher-brow art.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
Definition of vulgar

Phrases Containing common

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commodores
common
commonalities
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Cite this Entry

“Common.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/common. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on common

Nglish: Translation of common for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about common

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