common noun

noun

Definition of common nounnext
as in proper noun

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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 noun Jacob believed that the capitalization of common nouns was an inorganic import and did away with it, a choice that inspired parodies in the German press. — Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024 But perhaps even worse is the alternate fashion of just using common nouns as names, for example, Rust, Ruby, and Scheme. — Stephen Cass, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Sep. 2023 Surprisingly, the team’s results suggest that at least 10 to 30 quantifiably different concept variants exist for even common nouns such as penguin. — Simon Makin, Scientific American, 25 Apr. 2023 His proper name would become a common noun, a contemptible exclamation and novel profanity. — Jack Hitt, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for common noun
  1. proper noun
  2. collective noun
Noun
  • Isn’t a planet, by definition, always a proper noun?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 June 2026
  • Unlike the overheated adjectives that preceded it, this bit of legerdemain is a proper noun.
    — Bruce Stockler, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2026
Definition of proper noun
Noun
  • Since then, flamboyances of flamingos—the collective noun for the birds—have competed with oranges to symbolize the state.
    — Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 6 July 2026
  • This collective noun was earned because owls' solemn expressions resembled elderly politicians debating in dark rooms, says Cassill.
    — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 26 May 2026
Definition of collective noun

Browse Nearby Words

commonness
common noun
common nouns
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Cite this Entry

“Common noun.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/common%20noun. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on common noun

Nglish: Translation of common noun for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about common noun

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