commonness

noun

com·​mon·​ness ˈkä-mə(n)-nəs 

plural -es

: the quality or state of being common: such as

a

: the quality of being possessed or shared by all humankind or by a group : jointness of possession or use

also : the quality of appealing to the general run of people

although he came from the aristocracy he preserved a certain commonness that made him a successful politician

b

: the possession of usual, standard, ordinary, or undistinguished qualities or character

the commonness of the common man

also : the quality of occurring or appearing frequently in the ordinary course of events

they are the familiar folk one can come upon in any town, on any street, and in this book their commonness lends an extraordinary reality to the events that overtake them

—Harrison Smith

c

: the marked display of lack of learning, refinement, or taste

her father's commonness was what offended the daughter most, his habit of sitting in the parlor in his undershirt drinking beer

d

: indiscriminateness, vulgarity, promiscuousness

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

1. Expanded definitions
2. Detailed etymologies
3. Advanced search tools
4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now