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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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 canines ranged from 12 months old to 10 years old and the most common breeds were malinois, border collies, and Labrador retrievers. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 9 Oct. 2025 Forecasters say disturbances in the upper-level winds and shifting pressure systems are causing both warm and cool air to move through the area, a common pattern during seasonal changes. —Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2025 There’s a supply and demand issue in the higher education sector, and Heckler expects mergers like this one will become more common. —Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2025 An open listing is more common in commercial transactions, and means that the seller will only owe a commission if the broker produces a buyer. —Christopher A. Combs, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025 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
  • Now, the stage sure seems set for a more convincing victory this weekend over the 1-5 Saints, who are altogether ordinary across all three phases and in their first season under new coach Kellen Moore.
    — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Reichardt emphasizes the extremity of the action with a strikingly novel form of cinematic narrative that, in a more ordinary drama, might feel like a facile evasion.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2025
Definition of ordinary
Adjective
  • Israel then tightened a land-sea-air blockade of the territory, which made normal governance impossible and turned every budget line into a permit request.
    — Mohammed R. Mhawish, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The cells measure nine square meters (nearly 97 square foot), no bigger than normal cells, although residents in this special wing aren’t required to share a cell, typically out of concern for their safety.
    — Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Definition of normal
Adjective
  • For more on the Cleveland Browns and general NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
    — Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Oct. 2025
  • How the long-term contracts for Karlsson, Tomáš Hertl and Marc-Edouard Vlasic under former general manager Doug Wilson put off a necessary rebuild, then backing the strip-mining job current GM Mike Grier has been doing since his 2022 hiring.
    — Eric Stephens, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
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.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2025
  • For those looking to get ahead, the best career training might not come from a classroom or a corporate internship, but from a low-wage job in the service industry, says Jeetu Patel, now chief product officer at Cisco.
    — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
Definition of low
Adjective
  • Dissent is nothing more than the expression of an opinion that varies from the prevailing or traditional view or the position held by those in power.
    — Elizabeth Shackelford, Twin Cities, 26 Sep. 2025
Definition of prevailing
Adjective
  • The CtrlMovie system, developed by Kino Industries since its 2018 founding, enables collective audience decision-making that branches narratives seamlessly during screenings, with each show producing a unique experience based on viewer input.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Oct. 2025
  • The most sacred symbol in Asante culture remains the Golden Stool, which according to lore was conjured down from the heavens and symbolizes not only royal authority but also the people’s collective soul.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
Definition of collective
Adjective
  • In an era when executive compensation philosophy is often criticized for rewarding mediocre performance or short-term thinking at the expense of long-term strategy, Tesla’s approach stands out for its rigor and emphasis on accountability.
    — Shane Goodwin, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
  • For every National Business Solutions and Darmine Devices that appear impenetrable in their genericness, there’s a small-time local establishment finding a way to sell a mediocre product to Robinson.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2025
Definition of mediocre
Adjective
  • My adolescent cells floated away from poor me and traded places with his.
    — Betty Gilpin, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Women disproportionately suffer chronic disease, on average spend 25% more time in poor health than men, and, on average, experience the final 12 to 14 years of their lives in frail health.
    — Maria Shriver, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
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 17 Oct. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of common for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about common

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