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 Nancy West, a licensed clinical social worker and therapist at West Counseling & Consulting, told Newsweek the woman's emotional response was valid and common in evolving adult relationships. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025 So the first step is to make such screenings common and expected for both children and their adult caregivers. —Ty Schepis, The Conversation, 30 May 2025 According to Ukrainian figures, attacks involving an average of 100 Shahed-style drones a night have become common this year, with last weekend seeing some of the largest onslaughts at about 300 drones a night. —Arkansas Online, 30 May 2025 Pay Attention to Bathrooms Falls are common in the bathroom, where moisture is ever present and surfaces are slippery. —Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 May 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
  • Reflective writing, another recent trend, is practically ubiquitous in medical schools and residency programs, and there is some evidence that writing may make doctors more empathetic and observant.
    — Danielle Ofri, New Yorker, 7 June 2025
  • Smart lawn mowers certainly aren't as ubiquitous as their indoor, floor-cleaning counterparts, and there are several good reasons for that.
    — John Mihaly, PC Magazine, 6 June 2025
Definition of ubiquitous
Adjective
  • In the months since Trump was reelected and returned to the White House, American doctors have shown skyrocketing interest in becoming licensed in Canada, where dozens more than normal have already been cleared to practice, according to Canadian licensing officials and recruiting businesses.
    — Brett Kelman, NPR, 29 May 2025
  • Most kids use pacifiers—and up to a certain point, that's totally normal.
    — ​Wendy Wisner, Parents, 29 May 2025
Definition of normal
Adjective
  • Among folks in the business, there is a general sense of Hacks as a funny show featuring great performances, made by incredibly likable people in Downs, Aniello, and Statsky.
    — Joe Reid, Vulture, 7 June 2025
  • One former board member was Bean’s secretary, who had donated money to his wife’s campaigns for Knox County circuit, general sessions and juvenile court clerk, according to Betty Bean and local news reports at the time.
    — Paige Pfleger, ProPublica, 7 June 2025
Definition of general
Adjective
  • In fact, with one of the lowest average ages in the whole of the Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain this season has become a team known for its young, hardworking and likeable core group of players – Vitinha, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Barcola and Doué have all garnered plaudits.
    — Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 31 May 2025
  • Per Trump’s promise, the proposal leaves Title I (support for schools with low income students) and IDEA (funding for students with special needs) intact.
    — Peter Greene, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
Definition of low
Adjective
  • An exclusive group of evolutionary weirdos Only a handful of organisms are known to form collective assemblages for the purpose of dispersing, similar to the nematode towers.
    — Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 5 June 2025
  • There’s a backdrop of fake news and collective anxiety.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 5 June 2025
Definition of collective
Adjective
  • Stephen King’s novella about three chapters in the life of an ordinary man named Charles Krantz.
    — Andrew Torgan, CNN Money, 1 June 2025
  • In other words, Catherine is a nice, ordinary middle-class English girl.
    — Adelle Waldman, New Yorker, 31 May 2025
Definition of ordinary
Adjective
  • Programs like food aid for poor children, health care for seniors, and subsidies for day-to-day needs are in the balance.
    — Philip Elliott, Time, 5 June 2025
  • The risk extends even to children due to increasing rates of childhood obesity and poor dietary habits.20 As a result, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that healthy adults have their lipids checked every four to six years.
    — MD Published, Verywell Health, 5 June 2025
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • The survey examined a minimum of 1,000 comments per team and found less than 1% of posts made by fans of the Dallas Wings contained swear words or vulgar comments.
    — Alyssa Cooper, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 May 2025
  • The program was incredibly close-knit—kids practiced most days of the week, and hung out almost exclusively with their fellow All-Stars, as well as with the vulgar, charismatic teacher who structured their lives.
    — Air Mail, Air Mail, 3 May 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 10 Jun. 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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