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 While the surgery can help many dogs, complications and persistent breathing issues are common. —Taneia Surles, USA Today, 1 May 2026 Such practices are growing increasingly common — and increasingly lucrative. —Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026 Some of the most common mechanisms that California cities use to encourage major developments — for instance, an enhanced infrastructure financing district — use increases in property tax revenues to repay developers’ costs for building infrastructure, such as streets and sewer connections. —Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026 Betting favorites blindly is the most common mistake. —Neil Greenberg, New York Times, 1 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for common
Recent Examples of Synonyms for common
  1. ordinary
  2. normal
  3. general
  4. low
  5. prevailing
  6. collective
  7. mediocre
  8. poor
Adjective
  • Each episode closes the gap between inspiration and action, reminding audiences that remarkable brands are built by ordinary people who choose to keep going.
    — Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026
  • The only administrative requirements should be the ordinary ones that are necessary in order to maintain any system, such as confirming identity and preventing fraud, not ones that screen people out of necessary care.
    — Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
Definition of ordinary
Adjective
  • There’s a Marshalls on the Strip, a flashy glassy Marshalls being scaled by King Kong–like blinking M&M’s, but this was a normal strip-mall Marshalls.
    — Olivia Kan-Sperling, Artforum, 2 May 2026
  • Temperatures will return closer to 'normal' beginning on Sunday afternoon, with highs near 60 degrees.
    — Ron Smiley, CBS News, 2 May 2026
Definition of normal
Adjective
  • Much like the demonstrations two decades ago, organizers on Friday also called for a general boycott — no school, no work, no shopping — in an effort to demand that the country put workers above billionaires by taxing the rich.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
  • The one issue for Banchero, and the Magic in general, was free-throw shooting.
    — Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Definition of general
Adjective
  • The group, originally signed to RCA Records, released two albums of bustling synth pop and opened for Harry Styles in the late twenty-tens but was cast off in the early days of the pandemic owing to low sales.
    — Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
  • Senators Chris Murphy and Ruben Gallego have spoken publicly about wanting to pursue this, and Bedoya notes that there’s precedent for this action, citing Democrats’ recent introduction of a bill to break up the meatpacking industry to create lower prices for consumers.
    — Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 30 Apr. 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
  • More willing to put the collective goal of winning a title above all else.
    — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 1 May 2026
  • The Seahawks leaned on a collective pass rush rather than one dominant star, finishing the season as one of the league’s more effective defensive fronts.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Definition of collective
Adjective
  • Antonelli also passed the Ferrari quickly, and by lap 22, Leclerc’s race was looking pretty mediocre, stuck behind Russell after both had made relatively early pit stops for the mandatory tire change.
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 4 May 2026
  • The display also had mediocre color accuracy, with reds that verge on orange, plus a noticeable stage lighting backlight bleed from the hinge.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 4 May 2026
Definition of mediocre
Adjective
  • Injuries to key players on the Amazin’s contributed to some poor numbers as well.
    — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Although poor students are disproportionately likely to receive special education in New York City, well-off disabled kids are the ones most acutely driving up the budget.
    — Marc Novicoff, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 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 7 May. 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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