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 data center site is also a common recreational area for people, Hoff said, with a popular bike trail running through the valley. —Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026 There was a common refrain about buying Punch a gun. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2026 Differences In Caffeine Content A common misconception is that dark roast coffee is stronger, with a higher caffeine content. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2026 The surgery was a common revision for issues like gastroesophageal reflux disease or weight gain that persisted after bariatric surgery. —Amber Gaudet updated February 20, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 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
  • In this respect, Rose is a companion piece, being the story of another ordinary man, a struggling farmer in early 17th century Germany.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2026
  • In maybe more ordinary times, a Fritz, Shelton or Tiafoe may have won a Grand Slam by now.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Feb. 2026
Definition of ordinary
Adjective
  • At normal pool, anglers will find them at depths of 20-25 feet.
    — Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 15 Feb. 2026
  • What the files do seem to confirm, though, is the conspiracy theorist’s view of an elite stratosphere, where normal rules don’t apply, everyone knows each other, and ideological differences are subsumed to self-interested motives.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of normal
Adjective
  • The two Spinosaurus species, which were contemporaneous, shared the same general body plan including long dorsal spines forming the sail-like structure and a skull adapted for hunting fish.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 20 Feb. 2026
  • In person, Melling is naturally curious, freely solicitous of my opinions about the film or book recommendations in general.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2026
Definition of general
Adjective
  • Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 20 Feb. 2026
  • All that is gone, even more so as Premier League matches are being switched to Mondays and Fridays, when demand for everything is lower.
    — Andy Mitten, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Definition of low
Adjective
  • Harvesting seed nearby is a way to get plants that are genetically adapted to the prevailing environmental conditions and are more likely to thrive.
    — Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Jan. 2026
  • In the northern United States, enjoying the starry winter sky requires protection against the prevailing low temperatures.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Definition of prevailing
Adjective
  • The group – which touts itself as a pagan collective that worships Norse gods – also took credit for originally catapulting Springfield onto the national stage by amplifying ugly memes about the Haitians.
    — Caitlin Hu, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
  • There’s plenty of evidence from the past year to support that theory, from the ouster of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, to attacks on Russian shadow fleet vessels by Ukrainian special forces, to the brief Israel-Iran conflict last summer, all of which produced a collective shrug from oil traders.
    — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 19 Feb. 2026
Definition of collective
Adjective
  • Fittingly, the song’s thumping beat is heard twice, real loud, in Rosebush Pruning, Karim Aїnouz’s high-gloss, pitch-dark satire about an American family described by one of its scions as mediocre, vapid egotists, who will never have to work thanks to a large inheritance.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
  • The seltzer leavens it, enlivens it, puts room between the flavors where the room is needed most, and turns a derivative and mediocre drink into a fascinating and bizarre one.
    — Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of mediocre
Adjective
  • Policymakers globally are increasingly worried that the unequal adoption of AI risks widening income and development gaps between rich and poor countries.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
  • In November, Jesse Jackon was hospitalized again after suffering a fall while protesting poor campus living conditions with students at Howard University.
    — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026
Definition of poor

Phrases Containing common

Browse Nearby Words

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 21 Feb. 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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