common

adjective

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

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Relevance

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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 ordinary
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 Stimulant medications like Adderall (amphetamine), Ritalin (methylphenidate), and Provigil (modafinil) are common treatments for narcolepsy. —Mark Gurarie, Health, 3 May 2025 Carly Pearce and Kelsea Ballerini have a lot more in common than being 30-something country singers! —Angel Saunders, People.com, 3 May 2025 Drawbacks Newer, less common, strong Digestive issues if too much High in saturated fat, may spike LDL Summary Though its flavor profile may not appeal to everyone, olive oil coffee provides many benefits that promote heart health and fight chronic disease. —Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 2 May 2025 Then the clams disappeared Nov. 29, 2021 Sparkman warned against taking common species for granted. —Sean Greene, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for common
Recent Examples of Synonyms for common
  1. ubiquitous
  2. normal
  3. general
  4. low
  5. collective
  6. ordinary
  7. poor
  8. vulgar
Adjective
  • The once notoriously secretive Ministry of State Security now commands a massive following on Chinese social media, with near-daily commentaries, short videos or even comic strips sounding the alarm about supposedly ubiquitous threats to the country.
    — Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 2 May 2025
  • Liberty Mutual has a ubiquitous presence on television, and Jenna Lebel, Liberty Mutual’s CMO for its U.S. retail markets, believes the high engagement of women’s sports fans will be incredibly beneficial for both sides.
    — Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 1 May 2025
Definition of ubiquitous
Adjective
  • Telling investors what’s coming is a normal part of doing business.
    — Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 4 May 2025
  • Chong, 30, compared the all-consuming role to that of being an athlete, who trains intensely and dedicates time and energy to the sport beyond normal business hours.
    — Richard Nieva, Forbes.com, 3 May 2025
Definition of normal
Adjective
  • Indeed, a 2019 study by the Happiness Research Institute found that 73 percent of people who are happy with their homes also are happier in general.
    — Matt Alderton, USA Today, 3 May 2025
  • Rich Brown Decking and Fences Regularly staining and sealing wood decks and fences around your property is part of the general upkeep.
    — Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 May 2025
Definition of general
Adjective
  • That high prices foretell lower prices rates more discussion as Republicans and conservatives rush to anoint former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh as the next Fed Chairman.
    — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
  • That's why the ratings, the approval numbers of the media are so low.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 4 May 2025
Definition of low
Adjective
  • Our team’s collective effort to deliver what’s best for the brand has been a staple since day one.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 30 Apr. 2025
  • These exercises are vital in strengthening our collective defense posture and operational readiness.
    — Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
Definition of collective
Adjective
  • Things get better and worse and better, happier and sadder and so on, as the couple travels through eight episodes of mostly ordinary drama — jealousy and insecurity, mopiness and mooniness, desolation and elation, miscommunication and reconciliation — on the way to maturity.
    — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2025
  • The royal family joined the 1,800-strong congregation in a national two-minute silence to reflect on and remember the sacrifices and heroism of the armed forces and the stoicism of ordinary people during the war.
    — Simon Perry, People.com, 8 May 2025
Definition of ordinary
Adjective
  • Consumer spending softened, increasing 1.8%, down from a 4% rise in the fourth quarter, but a decent performance in light of stock market turmoil and poor weather early in the quarter.
    — Paul Davidson, USA Today, 1 May 2025
  • These factors could contribute material risk to Nike’s earnings and put the company in a poor position to manage near-term headwinds.
    — Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 30 Apr. 2025
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • The comments in screen shots of the chat room were demeaning and vulgar – as were the texts from the anonymous messenger who had sent her the images.
    — Yoonjung Seo and Mike Valerio, CNN Money, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Where once was the vulgar, now lies the Vulgate, a common relatable almost religious experience that all at Barclays seemed to feel.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 18 Apr. 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 May. 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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