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 Swollen, bleeding gums are another common result. —Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026 Here are some common scenarios and what insurance is tax-deductible. —Liz Knueven, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026 This is something that is common around young stars that have turbulent and violent environments, but is uncommon for stars as old as ASASSN-24fw, estimated to be around 1 billion years old. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026 The towers would be linked by a large common area and have a lakefront boardwalk, new dining space and fitness and wellness areas. —Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 13 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
  • Their goal with the video was to push back against the president’s domestic troop deployments, a trend his critics feared might lead to clashes with ordinary Americans or be used to interfere in upcoming elections.
    — Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Nothing out of the ordinary there, admittedly.
    — Phil Hay, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of ordinary
Adjective
  • Under normal conditions, these signals go straight to the robot’s central processing unit.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Researchers around the world are now finding microplastics – tiny plastic fragments and fibers smaller than a grain of rice – in garden soils and compost products that look perfectly normal to the naked eye.
    — Dr. Avishesh Neupane, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of normal
Adjective
  • Though framed as a request for information, Levine’s letter signals that Florida’s campaign against accrediting bodies — once focused on general university oversight — is expanding into medicine, one of the most tightly regulated sectors of higher education.
    — Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The second would be how friendly people are along King Drive in general.
    — Kynala Phillips, jsonline.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of general
Adjective
  • Boxer Imane Khelif admitted to having the SRY gene, located on the Y chromosome, which is found in biological males, and undergoing hormone treatments to lower testosterone levels ahead of the 2024 Olympics in an interview with the French sports publication L'Equipe.
    — Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The appeals court sent the case back to the lower court to amend the 2024 ruling.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 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
  • Lamont now wants to reduce the new tax hike from $375 million to $100 million while preserving the plan passed last year to boost payments to hospitals by $140 million annually, netting the hospitals a collective $40 million a year.
    — Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The number is calculated by a formula laid out in the most recent collective-bargaining agreement between the NFL and the NFL Players Association.
    — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of collective
Adjective
  • When a team has a losing or mediocre season over several seasons shouldn’t the coach take some of the blame.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Hedda — the bored, mercurial and vicious wife of a mediocre academic — is known as the Hamlet of women’s roles because it’s widely considered the most complex female part ever written for the stage.
    — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of mediocre
Adjective
  • Semmann said stores raise prices primarily in response to supply chain issues, such as poor harvests, changes to international trade policy or increasing logistical costs.
    — Francesca Pica, jsonline.com, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Boating conditions are poor across offshore waters south of Cape Canaveral, while small craft need to exercise caution near the inlets.
    — Garfield Hylton, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
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 14 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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