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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 The consequences take a hatchet to common-sense representation. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 18 July 2026 That sight was more common in the 1930s, when these fast, vast yachts, ranging from 119 to 140 feet, competed in the America’s Cup and other regattas and were owned by some of the world’s wealthiest sailing enthusiasts of the time. — Chrissie McClatchie, Robb Report, 18 July 2026 Healthcare deserts have become more common in parts of the country. — Svenja Gudell, Fortune, 18 July 2026 Several conditions become more common in women during perimenopause, including sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, thyroid disorders and depression. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for common
Recent Examples of Synonyms for common
  1. ubiquitous
  2. normal
  3. general
  4. low
  5. prevailing
  6. collective
  7. ordinary
  8. poor
Adjective
  • The daily burdens and stress of the school year lift, the days grow longer and sunnier, and in Maryland, the ubiquitous snowball stands reopen for the season.
    — Ellie Mitchell, Washington Post, 17 July 2026
  • For example, Running Warehouse, a top online running-shoe retailer, was the first independent website to carry the now-ubiquitous Hoka, its co-founder Joe Rubio told me.
    — Scott Douglas, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
Definition of ubiquitous
Adjective
  • The oil flow out of the Strait of Hormuz is by no means back to normal.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • The physical and mental effort that Bellingham has put himself through at this tournament is not normal.
    — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of normal
Adjective
  • The county’s airports are financed through an enterprise fund rather than the county general fund.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026
  • Additional construction will add 71 patient rooms and a Surgical Trauma Progressive Care Unit, which will provide care for patients who do not require intensive care, but are not stable enough for a general medical surgical unit.
    — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2026
Definition of general
Adjective
  • Wall Street looked past geopolitics even as oil prices climbed on the back of lower-than-expected inflation figures that sent tech stocks higher.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 15 July 2026
  • The results were consistent across most states lower rates of sleep insufficiency were associated with longer life expectancy.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
Definition of low
Adjective
  • The group noted the projection was revised upward from an earlier estimate owing to an additional year in the budget window and higher prevailing interest rates.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Likewise, prevailing concepts of Hamlet at the time cast the prince as a wan and melancholic, leading critics to bristle at Bernhardt’s energy.
    — Betsy Golden Kellem, JSTOR Daily, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of prevailing
Adjective
  • That does not require the unified Gulf foreign policy that would recreate Saudi tutelage in collective form.
    — Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • The sisters’ collective upper limb development also suggests high-intensity, repetitive actions like holding a heavy weapon or pulling a bowstring.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 17 July 2026
Definition of collective
Adjective
  • It was made by rich landowners who owned slaves, and it was designed to protect their power, not give ordinary people a real vote.
    — Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 14 July 2026
  • Seeing Black children and their families living ordinary yet robust lives in stories undermines negative portrayals.
    — Brooke Harris Garad, The Conversation, 14 July 2026
Definition of ordinary
Adjective
  • Prolonged exposure to heat can lead to insufficient or poor sleep, compromising the immune system, increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease and diminishing cognitive performance.
    — Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026
  • On top of this, subterranean drip systems often clog with mineral deposits, sediment, and algae, which Nad warns may eventually require repairs or replacement of portions of the system, particularly in areas with hard water or poor filtration.
    — Kamron Sanders, The Spruce, 13 July 2026
Definition of poor

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 19 Jul. 2026.

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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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