common stock

noun

: stock other than preferred stock

Examples of common stock in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Perhaps the biggest culprits in kitchen cabinetry are common stock items, such as cleaning supplies and trash bags. — Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 26 Aug. 2026 Kura Oncology — The biotech stock climbed 11% after CEO Troy Wilson disclosed buying up 100,000 shares of common stock in a regulatory filing . — Sarah Min, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026 But only about half its portfolio is made up of common stocks—the rest is a blend of convertible securities and high-yield bonds. — Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026 Now, under its new owners, EA’s common stock has stopped trading and will be delisted from Nasdaq. — Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for common stock

Word History

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of common stock was in 1852

Rhymes for common stock

See All Rhymes for common stock

Browse Nearby Words

common sorghum
common stock
common storage
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Common stock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/common%20stock. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Legal Definition

common stock

see also:
stock

More from Merriam-Webster on common stock

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about common stock

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All