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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in general
belonging or relating to the whole facts of common knowledge

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 Leather or faux leather are both common suspects for luxury crossbody phone bags, but there are also alternatives made with recycled, easy-to-clean nylon, suede, canvas, and beyond. —Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025 In the case of the bugs, Wolfe notes, the recognition that insects shared a close common ancestor with remipedes helps narrow down where and how insects originated. —Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2025 Furthermore, poor diets are common in the U.S., and the fast pace of life can cause more stress than women experience elsewhere, Annapoorna Kini, MD, director of the Interventional Structural Heart Disease Program for the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital in New York, added. —Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 2 Apr. 2025 The species is common in the Baltic Sea and typically occurs during the spring bloom, according to the researchers. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 1 Apr. 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
  • Sheer looks are a ubiquitous part of many a modern red carpet event.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Plugging his new album with the wonderfully ubiquitous Brandi Carlile, the EGOT winner is the musical guest this week with Oscar nominee Carlile, who is back for her third time too.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of ubiquitous
Adjective
  • Augusta National operates differently than normal places.
    — Brody Miller, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
  • This health condition occurs when your blood sugar is slightly higher than normal but not yet in the range for type 2 diabetes.
    — Julia Ries, Health, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of normal
Adjective
  • Mélanie Turpin has been named general manager of human resources.
    — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The Denver Nuggets have released a statement on the firing of head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth.
    — Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of general
Adjective
  • The survey's measure of consumer sentiment dropped to a level lower than at any point during the Great Recession.
    — Max Zahn, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Trust Is Built In Small Moments Like This For a co-op like Cabot Creamery, maintaining consumer trust means being transparent—even when the stakes are low.
    — Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of low
Adjective
  • One calendar year ago, coming off of that surprisingly competitive 2023-24 season, Briere cautioned against the group taking a collective step forward.
    — Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Dissanayake attributes the rise in ego-scrolling to the loneliness epidemic and a collective increase in stress and unhappiness among young adults.
    — Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of collective
Adjective
  • Inevitably, skipping ordinary procedural checks, the administration made at least one mistake in deporting Abrego Garcia, and probably many others.
    — The Editors, National Review, 14 Apr. 2025
  • During ordinary times, this accommodation would reflect an appropriate respect for the constitutional separation of powers.
    — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of ordinary
Adjective
  • Some parents worry that Alexa's high tolerance for rudeness instills poor behavior in their kids, according to Quartz.
    — Emily Forlini, PC Magazine, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Then someone pointed a finger at a surprising culprit: the soldiers’ poor health.
    — Maxim Sytch, Harvard Business Review, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of poor
Adjective
  • The Europeans were enchanted by the expressive fluency that the New York critics had considered vulgar.
    — David Denby, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The chief spoke at the LAPD’s Police Commission weekly meeting Tuesday, a day after news broke that officers from the department’s recruitment and employment division had been unknowingly recorded making vulgar comments, including while talking about police applicants.
    — Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 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 21 Apr. 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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