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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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 The condition is the third most common movement disorder behind essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025 This certificate, for example, lists ssltest5 as its common name. —Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 4 Sep. 2025 Irritability Another common symptom that isn't as obviously connected to anxiety is irritability. —Angela Ryan Lee, Verywell Health, 4 Sep. 2025 Mohs surgery is a common procedure used to treat skin cancer. —Molly Nagle, ABC News, 4 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
  • Many automakers returned to advertising during the NFL season last year as vehicle inventory levels returned to more normal levels.
    — Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Her therapist – who Heming Willis accidentally referred to her as her own caregiver – explained how normal these feelings were.
    — David Oliver, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Definition of normal
Adjective
  • How Often To Clean Linoleum Floors For general cleaning, Marla Mock, president of Molly Maid, recommends removing dust and debris in high-traffic areas daily using a dry microfiber mop.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Remember to label, date, and mark each soil sample with the general location where it was collected.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2025
Definition of general
Adjective
  • Steer clear of puddles - Driving into puddles or low areas of rainwater can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Add eggs one at a time, mixing on low.
    — Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 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
  • But prorating three years of player profits down to 12 months, as UEFA’s rule does, reduces the immediate efficacy of successful trading in the market, the very strategy that poorer clubs increasingly rely on to climb the ladder.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Like most extended car warranty providers, CarShield excludes pre-existing conditions that existed before your warranty took effect, as well as damage resulting from poor maintenance, neglect or intentional abuse.
    — Brian Sloan, CNBC, 4 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 11 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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