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 process of getting a new speed hump requires significant neighborhood support, common council approval, and residents could be left with a bill for the project. —Alyssa N. Salcedo, jsonline.com, 30 July 2025 Rising costs for South Florida condo owners Muniz’s struggle is increasingly common but not universal. —Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 30 July 2025 Per the report, Cincinnati is listed as a common origin city for Cleveland, Columbus and Indianapolis. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 30 July 2025 There are several common areas to check for misconfigurations in a containerized environment. —Margarita Simonova, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for common
Recent Examples of Synonyms for common
  1. ordinary
  2. normal
  3. general
  4. low
  5. collective
  6. mediocre
  7. poor
  8. vulgar
Adjective
  • Welcome back to Elmore, where the laws of reality are a joke, and family life is anything but ordinary.
    — DeVonne Goode, Parents, 31 July 2025
  • Netflix's The Sandman has love stories that are tangled, tragic and anything but ordinary — a stark contrast to the cast's real-life romances.
    — Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 31 July 2025
Definition of ordinary
Adjective
  • The results are limited to changes in normal brain aging, not Alzheimer's disease.
    — Jon Hamilton, NPR, 28 July 2025
  • As volatility becomes the new normal, many leaders feel compelled to act faster, control more or push harder.
    — Gamini Hewawasam, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
Definition of normal
Adjective
  • Credit card debt in general has seen fresh highs in the years following the pandemic, as inflationary pressures and stagnant wage growth have caused many Americans to look to consumer debt to fill the gaps.
    — Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
  • Claire Wilkinson, the general counsel for the School District, showed board members the two AI policies.
    — Edward McKinnon, Arkansas Online, 25 July 2025
Definition of general
Adjective
  • Designed as federal programs to assist the elderly, disabled individuals and those with low income, both have grown into the largest sources of health care coverage in the country.
    — Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025
  • Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2025
Definition of low
Adjective
  • Character imbalances not only influence individual and collective judgment but also impact individual well-being, often in distinct ways.
    — Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
  • His work tells the stories of small communities living in conditions of marginalization and social exclusion, revealing their intimate points of view while expressing broader collective needs.
    — PhotoVogue, Vogue, 23 July 2025
Definition of collective
Adjective
  • To that end, consider not who is best, but rather how an uptick from an individual component could make the overall product something, well, less mediocre.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 26 July 2025
  • Previous big-screen adaptations of the Fantastic Four weren't critical successes; the '05 and '07 movies are mediocre cheese at best and the Josh Trank movie from 2015 is downright reviled.
    — James Grebey, Time, 25 July 2025
Definition of mediocre
Adjective
  • Spurred by climate change, Canadian wildfires have increasingly exacerbated poor air quality across Milwaukee and southern Wisconsin.
    — Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 24 July 2025
  • Other critical factors that led to several brands exiting Japan, like Ford in 2016, were insufficient product lineups, and a poor dealer network.
    — Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • Because at the time, Madonna was seen as this controversial and sort of vulgar character.
    — Terry Gross, NPR, 17 July 2025
  • Users must also opt-in to see the vulgar version of Bad Rudi, rather than a more family-friendly version known simply as Rudi.
    — David Ingram, NBC news, 15 July 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 3 Aug. 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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