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 Foods processed to prevent spoilage but not usually refrigerated are the most common vehicles of botulism. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025 Research shows that dangerous storms are getting more common. —Greg Allen, NPR, 25 Apr. 2025 On the flip side, research suggests sedentary lifestyles—which may be more common among people who live in less walkable neighborhoods—can lead to high cholesterol and high blood pressure, raising the risk of stroke or heart attack.6 Inactivity can have consequences beyond heart health, too. —Julia Ries, Health, 25 Apr. 2025 Notifications, integration with the Apple ecosystem, and fitness tracking were the most common answers. —Adrienne So, Wired News, 24 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
  • This development mirrors the revolutionary vision of personal computing, suggesting a future where AI agents could become as ubiquitous as desktop computers. 2.
    — Gaurav Pathak, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
  • And although offal may never become as ubiquitous as muscle meat in American diets, more people eating organ meats could come with some positives.
    — Valerie Trapp, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of ubiquitous
Adjective
  • Seeing the color Olo needed specific stimulation to push the vision beyond its normal limits.
    — Terry Collins, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Such intimidation may be normal in Putin's Russia, not in the civilized world!
    — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Definition of normal
Adjective
  • Primaries not needed Spanberger and Earle-Sears can both skip competing in a primary and will instead head straight into the general face-off.
    — Savannah Kuchar, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025
  • This year is a defining one for Verbeek, who became a first-time NHL general manager in February 2022 after being an acolyte to Steve Yzerman in Tampa Bay and Detroit.
    — Eric Stephens, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
Definition of general
Adjective
  • There is no sign outside Hurdle’s San Diego salon, but despite the low profile, her Instagram page warns that she’s usually booked months in advance.
    — Lindsy Van Gelder, Allure, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Their recruitment model is heavily dependent on identifying and developing young talent — often at low cost by Premier League spending standards — from all over the world.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
Definition of low
Adjective
  • Beyond egg quality, the collective hit of fiber and healthy fats from the Med diet can also reduce inflammation, keeping your uterus in good shape for implantation.
    — Erica Sloan, SELF, 18 Apr. 2025
  • That lineup's success against the Kings means that Davis, PJ Washington, Naji Marshall and Lively will get plenty of run tonight as well. Don't be surprised if the Mavs' collective size forces Edey into foul trouble.
    — Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of collective
Adjective
  • So refreshing to see out of ordinary kitchen design.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Oliver is closer to ordinary than dominant on a game-by-game basis, while DeWayne Carter was a healthy scratch in the playoffs.
    — Tim Graham, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Definition of ordinary
Adjective
  • Some parents worry that Alexa's high tolerance for rudeness instills poor behavior in their kids, according to Quartz.
    — Emily Forlini, PC Magazine, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Then someone pointed a finger at a surprising culprit: the soldiers’ poor health.
    — Maxim Sytch, Harvard Business Review, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • The Europeans were enchanted by the expressive fluency that the New York critics had considered vulgar.
    — David Denby, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The chief spoke at the LAPD’s Police Commission weekly meeting Tuesday, a day after news broke that officers from the department’s recruitment and employment division had been unknowingly recorded making vulgar comments, including while talking about police applicants.
    — Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 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 30 Apr. 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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